When does cannabis use become problematic?

Problematic cannabis use exists when use has negative consequences for health, everyday life, relationships, or education and work, and the person keeps using anyway. The line does not depend on a fixed amount. It shows above all in what the use triggers in your own life. Anyone who spots this line early has more room to change course.

Problematic does not mean dependent

The terms are often mixed up. Problematic use describes a pattern of behaviour with harmful consequences. Dependence is a diagnosis in which several features coincide over a longer period. According to drugcom, problematic use usually begins earlier than dependence. So anyone who already notices problems does not have to wait until dependence is established.

The amount plays a role, yet the outcome counts for more. Frequency matters too: according to cannabispraevention.de, the harmfulness of cannabis depends on how often it is used. According to drugcom, neither the amount nor the frequency of use is decisive for the question of dependence. What matters more is whether use has already led to negative consequences.

How dependence is described

According to drugcom, dependence is present when at least two of the listed features apply within a period of twelve months. drugcom lists eleven features (substance use disorder according to DSM-5). These include, among others: using more often, in larger amounts or for longer than planned; a persistent wish or unsuccessful attempts to stop; a great deal of time spent obtaining and using; strong cravings; neglected obligations; social problems; given-up activities; use in dangerous situations, such as in road traffic; use despite physical or psychological problems; tolerance development; and withdrawal symptoms. The eleven questions serve as a self-check, and a professional makes any diagnosis.

According to Sucht Schweiz, psychological dependence shows mainly in strong cravings for cannabis.

How common dependence is

The Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit (BIÖG) writes on its page about long-term risks that roughly one in eight people who use cannabis becomes dependent. This figure shows that dependence is a real problem that affects a share of people who use cannabis. According to the prevention website, the risk rises with use once or several times a week. Whether someone becomes dependent cannot be read from the amount alone.

Warning signs in everyday life

Warning signs can show up in different areas of life. The following points help you to classify your own use:

• Use happens in situations where it does not really fit, such as before work or appointments.
• Plans are postponed because use takes priority.
• Friends or family express concern, and you do not take it seriously.
• You use even though you have decided to stop.
• Use leads to conflict, money problems or difficulties at school or at work.

If several of these points apply, a closer look is worthwhile. The article Which warning signs show that use is becoming too much? covers these points in more detail.

The self-test as a first step

The drugcom Cannabis-Check covers periods from seven days to twelve months, depending on the question, and asks, among other things, whether you felt you no longer had control over your use. It gives a first orientation and does not replace a diagnosis. If you are unsure, discuss the result with a professional.

An overview of self-tests is in the article Which online tests can help with self-assessment?.

Problematic does not mean hopeless

Anyone who notices a warning sign in themselves does not have to see it as a final verdict. Anyone who names a problem early can plan steps and get support. Small, checkable goals help, for example two evenings without cannabis in a week.

Warning signs should nevertheless not be ignored for long. Early counselling can widen your room for manoeuvre, and a professional can help you see which steps suit your case.

It also helps to note your triggers. Often they are certain times of day, places or people that prompt use. Anyone who knows these triggers can deliberately avoid those situations or shape them differently.

What you can do

1. Note your use for one week, including time, place, occasion and consequences.
2. Compare your notes with the warning signs.
3. Ask a trusted person for an honest assessment.
4. If two or more features apply, contact an addiction counselling service.

DigiSucht says it offers anonymous, free contact with counsellors. The Sucht & Drogen Hotline can be reached on 01806 313031 (daily from 8:00 to 24:00, charged). Only a professional can give an assessment of an individual case.