Which online tests can help with self-assessment?

Online self-assessment tests can help you classify your own cannabis use before you seek help. They ask about frequency, consequences and control, and they give feedback. What they can offer depends on their questions. That is why it is worth looking at what a test asks and what it leaves open.

What self-tests can do

A good self-test makes you put your own use into numbers and answers. Many people find this hard, because use often happens casually in everyday life. A test can make patterns visible, for example use after stressful days or an increase over several months. It thus gives you a prompt to look more closely at your own behaviour.

At the same time, a test remains an instrument of self-assessment. It does not know your life situation, your history or your motives. A diagnosis is made by a professional, and they do so after a personal conversation.

The drugcom Cannabis-Check

The Cannabis-Check is part of the drugcom service of the Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit (BIÖG). Depending on the question, it covers different periods, from the last seven days to the last twelve months. It asks, among other things, about frequency, age at first use, situations and reasons, loss of control and the wish to stop, alcohol, tobacco and other drug use, life satisfaction and psychological changes. The question about loss of control is revealing, because it asks about the feeling of having lost steering as well as about the amount.

The strength of the test lies in this clear structure. It shows where questions remain open, and it can be completed in a quiet moment. Its weakness is that it is only as good as the honest answers. Anyone who embellishes their answers will get an embellished result.

The DigiSucht Cannabis self-test

The digital addiction counselling service DigiSucht also offers a cannabis self-test. It is meant to recognise early signs of problematic use and, according to the service, gives individual feedback on consumption behaviour. The test sits within a counselling service. This means that anyone with a concerning result can directly request a conversation with counsellors.

The advantage of this combination is that self-assessment and counselling are linked. Anyone who takes the test does not have to be left alone with the result. The article What self-help is available for cannabis users? describes the DigiSucht services in more detail.

How to interpret your results

A test result is a pointer and nothing more. It helps to compare the test with your own notes. If you record your use over two weeks, you can check the answers. A similar method is described in the article Does a use diary help with self-control?.

• Discuss a concerning result with someone you trust.
• Go through the answers honestly again after a few weeks.
• Use counselling if you experience loss of control or strong cravings.
• See your family doctor if you have health complaints.

What to look for in a test

A good test states who offers it, which questions it asks and how the answers are handled. Reputable offers also state clearly that they do not replace a diagnosis. If you cannot find this information, use the test with caution.

It is also worth looking at the time frame. The Cannabis-Check states the period for each question, for example the last seven days or the last twelve months. Anyone who has a different period in mind when answering distorts the result. A note kept over several weeks helps to check your memory.

For every test, the same applies: only honest answers produce a meaningful result. This sounds obvious, but in everyday life it is often hard.

Common misunderstandings

A widespread error is that an inconspicuous result is a clean bill of health. That is not the case. A test only captures the points it asks about. If you have concerns, raise them regardless of the result.

A second misunderstanding concerns the expectation that a test replaces counselling. That is not its purpose. It is a guide that can make the way to a conversation easier.

A test can also show that use is inconspicuous. This result is reassuring, but it leaves open whether habits have slowly changed. An honest look at the last few months therefore remains sensible.

When a conversation makes sense

If your answers to a test point to loss of control, strong cravings or negative consequences, a conversation is worthwhile. The Sucht & Drogen Hotline can be reached on 01806 313031 (daily from 8:00 to 24:00, charged). DigiSucht says it offers anonymous, free contact with counsellors.

More on warning signs is in the article Which warning signs show that use is becoming too much?.