Which protective factors help against problematic cannabis use?

The prevention pages point mainly to two things: a later start and less frequent use, because according to cannabispraevention.de, harmfulness depends on age and on how often cannabis is used. Further points are avoiding combined use, knowing your own predisposition and moving regularly. No ranking of the protective factors is given. There is no guarantee either: protection means lowering the probability of problems without ruling them out.

The age of first use

According to cannabispraevention.de, the harmfulness of cannabis depends on the age of the user and on how often it is used. Young people are especially at risk. Anyone who starts later therefore has a clear advantage. The drugcom drug encyclopedia also describes that an early start can have lasting effects on cognitive performance.

Protection therefore works even before the first use. Anyone under 18 should postpone the start and turn to a counselling service with questions. The legal situation is only part of the answer, because the development of the brain also plays a role.

Taking your predisposition seriously

The prevention website cannabispraevention.de explains that individual predisposition plays a role. With an inborn tendency towards psychosis, even small amounts of cannabis can be enough. This statement refers to a risk that does not show itself in the same way in every person. Anyone who knows that mental illnesses occur in their family should therefore be more careful and talk to a doctor.

The site also stresses that the statistical link between cannabis and psychosis does not prove that cannabis causes psychosis. Predisposition and use often act together. That makes the situation more serious and calls for a closer assessment.

Avoiding combined use

According to cannabispraevention.de, cannabis and alcohol together are very stressful for the circulation and often lead to nausea and vomiting. According to feel-ok.ch, drugs intensify each other, because their effects combine. Alcohol also leads to overestimating yourself. Both cannabis and alcohol impair concentration and reaction ability.

Anyone who mixes cannabis with tobacco additionally burdens the airways and increases the risk of becoming dependent on nicotine. According to drugcom, in almost all cases tobacco smoking comes before the first use of cannabis. According to drugcom, the start of drug use cannot be traced back to a single substance.

Exercise and everyday life

A study described by drugcom showed better brain performance in people who wanted to stop and who did sport. The study ran over three weeks with 79 participants and concerns recovery after stopping. It does not show whether sport protects against problematic use. Sport is no substitute for counselling.

Plan fixed times for exercise, sleep and leisure. There is no evidence that fixed daily routines protect against problematic use.

Recognising warning signs early

According to drugcom, problematic use usually begins earlier than dependence. That is why early warning signs are especially important. The drugcom Cannabis-Check asks, for example, whether you had the impression of no longer having your use under control. For the question of dependence, according to drugcom, consequences matter more than the number of days of use.

The features that drugcom names include continued use despite physical or psychological problems, given-up activities and unsuccessful attempts to reduce use. Anyone who notices such signals in themselves or in others should react early.

When protection alone is not enough

Protective factors help, yet they are no guarantee. If use already has consequences, good intentions are often not enough. Then counselling is the right step. An addiction counselling service checks with you which form of support fits your situation.

With acute complaints, such as a racing heart, severe anxiety or confusion, see a doctor. In an emergency, call the emergency number.

What you can do now

1. If you have not yet started using, postpone the start and talk openly about why.
2. Avoid combined use with alcohol and tobacco, especially before appointments and journeys.
3. Note whether there are mental illnesses in your family and take that into account in your decisions.
4. Plan fixed exercise sessions every week.
5. If you are unsure, take the drugcom Cannabis-Check, and get counselling if it shows anything concerning.

Further notes on self-assessment are in the article When does cannabis use become problematic? Anyone who notices warning signs in others can read the article Which groups have the highest risk?