When is professional help for cannabis use worthwhile?

Professional help for cannabis use makes sense if you can no longer control your use, if it burdens your everyday life, work or health, or if people around you are seriously worried. There is no fixed amount that marks the threshold. What matters is how the use changes your life. This article shows typical signals, which services offer counselling, and what the first step looks like in practice.

Amount alone does not set the threshold

Many people wait for help until they have reached a limit in numbers. Using little can still be a burden if control and everyday life suffer. Another person may notice no consequences for a long time, but that does not mean that frequent use is risk-free. The amount alone says little.

A sound assessment therefore asks about consequences and control. If you can no longer stop using even though you want to, or if the use causes harm, the time has come for a conversation.

Typical signs that you need support

Several signals speak for getting support. These include repeated, unsuccessful attempts to use less and a strong craving for cannabis in everyday life. Conflicts in relationships, difficulties at work or in education, and withdrawal from hobbies also count.

• You cannot cut back your use even though you resolve to.
• Use burdens relationships, education, studies or work.
• You keep using even though you are aware of health problems.
• Relatives or friends raise it with you repeatedly.

An overview of warning signs is in the article Which warning signs show that use is becoming too much?.

Keeping mental health in view

If cannabis use is linked to mood, anxiety or sleep, help is especially important. The Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit (BIÖG) describes that people who use cannabis develop psychosis more often than people who do not. This statistical link, however, does not prove that cannabis actually causes psychosis. Such symptoms belong in medical hands, even if they occur only occasionally.

Persistent exhaustion and mood swings are also a reason to speak with a doctor. The article Can mental health problems make cannabis use worse? explains the link.

Which services offer counselling

Addiction counselling services advise on questions about use. Specialists there assess your use and look for a way forward together with you. Ask the service whether it advises on site and whether telephone or online conversations are possible. A telephone starting point is the Sucht & Drogen Hotline on 01806 313031 (daily from 8:00 to 24:00, charged). DigiSucht says it offers anonymous, free contact with counsellors.

Doctors can clarify physical and psychological causes and, where needed, start further treatment. A family doctor often already knows your medical history and can refer you to a suitable service.

The first step is a conversation

At first contact you can describe how you are doing, which patterns you notice and what matters to you. Ask the service in advance how it works, how the conversation runs and what it costs.

Prepare for the conversation by noting how often and in which situations you use. A use diary makes the account easier. The method is explained in the article Does a use diary help with self-control?

When relatives are worried

Friends, partners or family often notice changes earlier than you do. Their concern is a signal you can take seriously, even if at first it feels like a reproach. Relatives can also seek counselling to clarify how to deal with the situation.

How the environment affects use is a question in its own right: How does your circle of friends affect your own use? Conflicts in the family are described in the article How do conflicts in family or partnerships affect use?

If you need help but are unsure

Some people sense that they could use support and are still undecided. Ask a service whether a first conversation is possible without any obligation.

Why people hide their use is explained in Why do people hide their use? Anyone who wants to talk openly about their use without giving their name will find first options in the article Where can I talk anonymously about my own use?

Costs, waiting times and data protection

Ask the service in advance about costs, because offers are organised differently. Waiting times can also vary widely. Ask about short-notice appointments, or contact another service.

Ask also how personal data is handled: what is documented and who receives information. These questions are legitimate and should be clarified before the first conversation.

Treatment and therapy at a glance

Not every situation needs treatment in the narrower sense. Some people benefit from a few conversations, others need longer support. A doctor can assess whether outpatient support is enough or whether further steps are needed. It is important that you can follow the recommendation and feel free to ask questions.

Combining counselling with medical care is also possible. Both paths complement each other, because counselling looks at everyday life and medicine at the physical and psychological side. The best way to see how the two fit together is to discuss it with both.

What you can do now

• Book an appointment with an addiction counselling service or a doctor.
• Keep a use diary for one to two weeks.
• Ask a trusted person to accompany you to the conversation.
• In acute problems, such as severe anxiety or confusion, seek medical help immediately.

The article How do I find an addiction counselling service near me? shows how to find suitable services.