Dangerous drugs: Young people in Hamburg are slipping into spirals of addiction!

Dangerous drugs: Young people in Hamburg are slipping into spirals of addiction!

In recent years, consumer behavior among young people in Germany has changed noticeably. According to addiction expert Rainer Thomasius, former head of the German Center for Addiction Issues in Children and Adolescents (DZSKJ), more and more young people are slipping into risky spirals of addiction. Thomasius observes that more and more adolescents first use cannabis and later move on to harder drugs such as tilidine or fentanyl. This development alarms experts and requires urgent action.

A look at current studies shows that young people consume less alcohol and tobacco. But there is an underlying danger here, because Thomasius emphasizes that many young people who consume in risky areas are not recorded in such surveys. These young people often go undetected because, for example, they do not go to school or do not appear in household surveys. Therefore, the view of the real situation remains incomplete.

Risks from legalization

The legalization of cannabis, which has been in force since April 1, 2024, has a variety of effects. According to that Federal Ministry of Health Health and social risks should not be underestimated. An educational campaign has been launched to focus on youth protection and prevention. Children and young people aged 12 to 25 are particularly at risk. The campaign is aimed not only at the young consumers themselves, but also at caregivers such as parents, teachers and trainers in order to have a preventive effect.

However, Thomasius criticizes the cannabis legal concept and shows that the goals of health protection and prevention have only been inadequately achieved. The “FreD” prevention project, which aims to educate young people about drug abuse, is currently inactive due to a lack of legal recourse for the police. Restrictions in prevention work could have fatal consequences, especially at a time when not only cannabis consumption but also the abuse of painkillers is increasing among young people.

The effects of the pandemic and new consumption patterns

Since the coronavirus pandemic, studies have shown a worrying increase in the abuse of painkiller combinations, often in conjunction with cannabis. There is also an increase in heroin use among young people, something that has not been seen in over 30 years. These new consumption patterns reveal a growing problem that must be addressed immediately.

The normalization of cannabis use results in a larger group of at-risk youth who often also use other psychoactive substances. Thomasius speaks of a “new consumer group” that brings with it social isolation and a negative self-image. In addition, a current study shows that a quarter of young people display problematic social media usage behavior - a three-fold increase since 2021, which can lead to further isolation.

Strengthen education and prevention

Thomasius calls for a separate school subject, “Health,” in order to specifically teach resilience and life skills and make addiction prevention more effective. The need to educate and protect young people is becoming increasingly urgent. It would therefore be advantageous to intensify the existing information offerings and make them accessible to parents and young people.

In summary, it can be said that although cannabis use among young people has been legalized, the risks and side effects should by no means be underestimated. Rather, the focus must now be on prevention so that the negative consequences for the next generation can be contained.