Where can you talk anonymously about your own use?

You can talk anonymously about your cannabis use, for example in the chat counselling on the drugcom.de portal. According to the service, it is anonymous and free of charge, and other users cannot follow the conversation. By phone, you can reach the Sucht & Drogen Hotline on 01806 313031 (daily 8:00 to 24:00, charged, with a fee per call). If you first want to know which service fits your question, the main options are listed here.

Why many people hesitate

Many people do not talk about their use because they fear disadvantages. At work, at school or in the family, the topic can be sensitive. With a service that can be used anonymously, you do not have to say who you are, and you decide for yourself how much you share.

How a service implements anonymity is described on the provider's website, and so are the data protection notes. Read them before you write anything personal.

The drugcom chat counselling

The chat counselling is a service of the drugcom.de portal. According to the site, the counselling is anonymous and free of charge. Other users cannot observe the conversation. The site also describes a protected counselling room that you can switch to in order to discuss topics that others cannot follow. Opening hours are Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 15:00 to 17:00, and Wednesday and Friday from 13:00 to 15:00, except on nationwide and Berlin public holidays.

The chat suits you especially if you prefer writing to speaking. You can reply at your own pace and take your time. However, the chat counselling does not replace a medical examination. For physical complaints, see a doctor.

The Sucht & Drogen Hotline

The Sucht & Drogen Hotline can be reached on 01806 313031 daily from 8:00 to 24:00. The call is charged: a fee per call applies from landlines as well as from mobile networks. It is a joint service of the drug emergency lines (Drogennotrufe) in Frankfurt am Main and Munich. The details are on the BIÖG information line page. Check there for the current details before you call.

The site does not say explicitly whether the call is anonymous. You can therefore ask at the start how your details will be handled. If an answer stays unclear, you decide for yourself what you tell them.

Local contact points

Besides chat and phone, DigiSucht (suchtberatung.digital) offers free and anonymous digital addiction counselling, according to its own information. There are also addiction counselling centres in person. There you can talk face to face and get help with the next steps, for example a plan to stop or support with problems in the family. You can find out which centre is responsible near you by searching for counselling services in your region.

Ask the relevant centre whether a first conversation without giving your name is possible. Many centres explain this by phone or on their website. Ask them directly before you book an appointment.

What you can clarify for yourself beforehand

A conversation is easier when you know what you want to talk about. One guide is the criteria that drugcom lists for dependence. According to the site, dependence is present when at least two of eleven criteria apply within 12 months. These include using more or for longer than planned, unsuccessful attempts to stop, strong cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

The site also stresses that problematic use usually starts earlier than dependence. That is why a conversation is worth it even if you are only unsure. Write down three points: how often you use, what has changed in recent months and what worries you.

Age matters too. According to cannabispraevention.de, the risks of cannabis are particularly high for young people. If you are young, you do not need to wait until the pressure becomes great.

Common hurdles and how to overcome them

• Fear of being judged. You decide how much you tell. You may start with a short description.
• Worry about legal consequences. For possession, section 3 of the Cannabis Act (KCanG) sets a limit of 25 grams for people aged 18 and over. For individual questions, a specialist lawyer (Fachanwalt) can help. Courts decide each case individually.
• The feeling that you have to sort everything out on your own. A first conversation is only a first step. After that you can think about whether to go on.

If you are worried about someone else

Sometimes you worry about a child or a friend. For parents there is the parents' line (Elterntelefon) of Nummer gegen Kummer on 0800 111 0 550. According to the service, the call is anonymous and free of charge. Counselling is available on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 to 17:00, and on Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 to 19:00. You can call even if you are not yet sure whether there is a problem. Describe what you have noticed and get advice on which steps fit.

What you can do now

If you want to talk to someone today, go through these steps in this order:

1. Write down, in two or three sentences, what is on your mind.
2. Start with the chat counselling if you prefer writing. According to the service, it is anonymous and free of charge.
3. Call the Sucht & Drogen Hotline if you prefer speaking. Check the current details on the BIÖG information line page first.
4. Look for a local addiction counselling centre if you want ongoing support. Ask there how a first conversation works.

You can find more about warning signs in the article on problematic use. A first assessment of your own limits is offered in the article Which signs show that you are crossing your own limits?. If you need specific help, read how to find a counselling service nearby.