How do I recognise loss of control with cannabis use?

Loss of control over use means that you can no longer steer your use the way you intend. You resolve to smoke only at weekends, and then you use during the week anyway. You want to use less, but you do not manage it. Use becomes longer, more frequent or stronger than you wanted. That is a warning signal, even if it does not automatically mean dependence.

How do you recognise loss of control?

Typical are repeated attempts to cut back that fail. Often, you also use more than you planned, or the thought of cannabis increasingly shapes everyday life. If you constantly think about when the next use will be possible, take this seriously.

According to Sucht Schweiz, psychological dependence shows mainly as a strong craving to use cannabis. This craving is a sign that use is no longer simply a decision that one takes freely. More on the basics is in the article Psychological dependence on cannabis.

When do we speak of dependence?

Drugcom describes when a dependence is present: it is present if at least two criteria apply within a period of twelve months. The criteria include, among other things, using more often, in larger amounts or for longer than planned, unsuccessful attempts to cut back, strong craving and continuing to use despite problems.

Drugcom also makes clear that problematic use usually begins earlier than dependence. You do not have to be dependent to have problems. According to drugcom, the decisive factor is whether use has already brought negative consequences. According to the site, amount and frequency play no decisive role in this question. That does not mean that amount and frequency are irrelevant. They help only to a limited extent in recognising the problem.

Typical consequences to watch for

Negative consequences often show up in areas that people do not for a long time connect with use. These include:

• Difficulties at school, in training, at university or at work, for example from declining concentration.
• Arguments with family, partner or friends because of use.
• Withdrawing from hobbies and meetings that used to matter.
• Money problems, or lying about how much you use.
• Using in situations where it does not fit, for example before driving.

If several of these points apply, a closer look is worthwhile. The category prevention and youth protection offers further articles on this.

Checking your own use: the cannabis check

The cannabis check on drugcom.de is a self-test. Depending on the question, it covers different periods, from the last seven days to the last twelve months, including loss of control and the wish to stop. It is not a diagnosis. However, it can show which areas of your life might be affected, and it helps prepare the conversation with a professional.

A few questions help even without the test:

• Have I tried several times to use less and not managed it?
• Does use have consequences in my everyday life that bother me?
• Do I use to dampen unpleasant feelings?
• Would I be worried if someone close to me used in this way?

If you answer several of these questions with yes, do not assess your use on your own. The article Am I dependent? Self-test and signs explains the questions in more detail.

Why loss of control often goes unnoticed

Habits rarely stand out as long as they work in everyday life. Someone who smokes a joint every evening often finds this normal. Only when friends say something, an exam goes badly or money runs short does attention turn to the use. Many people justify their use by pointing out that they manage everything. That may be true, but it says little about whether the use is still wanted.

A short check that looks at everyday life is helpful. Ask yourself what you no longer do without cannabis, which plans you are postponing and how your sleep has changed. If you notice that you have to justify yourself while doing this, that is a sign to seek a conversation with a trusted person.

What to do when you notice loss of control

The first step is to name the situation honestly. Many people wait a long time because they are ashamed or believe they have everything under control. An open look helps, because it shows what can be changed. Anyone who wants to stop or reduce use should set a concrete plan and plan for setbacks.

If you are unsure, counselling is the right place. You can reach the Sucht & Drogen Hotline on 01806 313031 (daily from 8:00 to 24:00, the call is charged). A local addiction counselling centre can help you assess your use together with you. The article Professional help for cannabis use explains which services exist and how to get started.

Prevention in everyday life

Loss of control rarely arises overnight. It develops from habits that stay unnoticed for a long time. Fixed breaks from use help, as does looking at triggers such as stress or boredom, and talking with people you trust. Anyone who ties use to particular places or times notices earlier when something shifts. Routines unrelated to cannabis also offer protection, such as sport or fixed meetings with friends.

Anyone under 18 should be especially attentive. According to cannabispraevention.de, the young brain is in an important phase of development. According to drugcom, use before 18 is linked to brain changes whose cause has not yet been fully clarified. More on this is on the page youth protection.

What you can do now

• Take the cannabis check on drugcom.de and read the result honestly.
• Note when and why you use, and what happens afterwards.
• Talk to a trusted person who will not judge you.
• If you are unsure, call the Sucht & Drogen Hotline on 01806 313031.

Loss of control is a sign that use takes up more room than you would like, and anyone who notices it early has more options to change something.