What share of people who use cannabis become dependent?

According to the Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit (BIÖG), roughly one in eight people who use cannabis become dependent. This figure is an important reference point, but it does not tell the whole story. It describes the share of users as a whole. Whether and when someone becomes dependent depends on the pattern of use, the age at which they started and personal factors.

What the figure means

The statement “roughly one in eight people” refers to all people who use cannabis. It does not mean that every person who uses cannabis once becomes dependent. Drugcom writes that most users stay with occasional use or stop again. The BIÖG adds that the risk of becoming dependent rises if someone uses cannabis once or several times a week. The figure does show, however, that the risk is real and worth taking seriously.

It is also important that cannabis users are a very varied group. Some use rarely, others every day. Some start as teenagers, others as adults. A single figure cannot reflect these differences, but it provides a yardstick for caution.

How dependence develops

Drugcom explains that long-term use can lead to psychological dependence. According to Sucht Schweiz, psychological dependence shows itself above all in a strong craving for cannabis. Anyone who notices that they think about use even when they had not planned it should take this seriously.

Drugcom describes how, for some people, cannabis use increasingly takes on the role of coping with unpleasant feelings such as boredom, anxiety or difficulty sleeping. According to drugcom, psychological problems such as depression or anxiety symptoms increase the risk of misusing cannabis as self-medication. The article Psychological dependence on cannabis describes this mechanism in more detail.

When do we speak of dependence?

Drugcom describes dependence through criteria. Dependence is present when at least two of the criteria named apply within a period of twelve months. The site explains the individual criteria in detail. The scheme helps avoid passing judgement after one bad day. It directs attention to a longer period.

According to drugcom, problematic use usually also begins earlier than dependence. What is decisive is whether use already has negative consequences. According to drugcom, quantity and frequency play no decisive role in the question of dependence. Anyone who notices problems in everyday life does not have to wait for a particular amount.

Youth and early phases of use

The younger a person is, the greater the health risk according to the BIÖG, because the young brain is in an important phase of development. Drugcom cites convincing evidence that an early start to use has lasting effects on cognitive performance. For brain changes described in connection with starting use before the age of 18, the cause has not yet been fully clarified, according to the site.

For this reason, young people require particular caution. Protecting them from use remains a shared task of family, school and the wider environment. More on this is on the page Youth protection.

Withdrawal as a hurdle

Anyone who wants to stop may notice withdrawal symptoms. According to drugcom, withdrawal symptoms usually begin 24 to 48 hours after the last use. They usually last up to a week, and in the worst case up to 14 days. Drugcom names, among others, nervousness, restlessness, sleep problems, disturbing dreams, reduced appetite and aggression. Another drugcom article gives three to four weeks for physical withdrawal. There, withdrawal is described as unpleasant and not life-threatening, while psychological dependence lasts longer. The article What withdrawal symptoms occur with cannabis? explains what this looks like in detail.

The hurdle of withdrawal is a reason to seek support. A counselling service can help plan the exit and put setbacks into context.

Checking your own use

A first step is an honest look at your own use. The cannabis check on drugcom.de asks about use over the past twelve months and includes questions about loss of control and consequences in everyday life. The test does not replace a diagnosis. It does, however, show areas that are worth considering consciously. At the end, according to its own description, drugcom gives detailed feedback with recommendations. Anyone who recognises several of the criteria should seek a conversation with a specialist. The article Am I dependent? Self-test and signs explains the questions in more detail.

Prevention: strengthening protective factors

Dependence cannot be prevented by knowledge alone, but knowledge is a start. Drugcom names psychological problems such as depression or anxiety symptoms as a risk factor. Anyone who uses cannabis mainly to cope with unpleasant feelings should raise this early in counselling. The article on protective factors against problematic use names concrete ideas.

Common errors of reasoning

Many people compare their use with that of others. Such comparisons rarely help, because patterns of use vary greatly. What matters is one’s own development over time, and the behaviour of the circle of friends is secondary.

Another error of reasoning is the assumption that dependence only shows itself with daily use. The criteria also concern control, craving and negative consequences in everyday life. Anyone who notices difficulties in training, relationships or work should take the question of dependence seriously, even if use appears irregular.

A notebook with date, occasion and feeling before use can be helpful. After a few weeks, patterns emerge that were not visible in one’s head. These notes are a good basis for a conversation with a counselling service.

Changes in sleep, finances, appointments or withdrawal from the circle of friends are signs that can be raised. A calm conversation with concrete observations fits better than a discussion about amounts, because according to drugcom, quantity and frequency are not decisive for the question of dependence.

What you can do now

• Compare your own use with the criteria on drugcom.
• Take the cannabis check on drugcom.de and take its answers seriously.
• If you are worried, call the Sucht & Drogen Hotline on 01806 313031.
• Seek medical advice for withdrawal symptoms if they are severe or last a long time.

The figure of roughly one in eight users shows how serious the topic is. Anyone who knows the risk can react earlier.