Young people and addiction
Protecting young people from addiction
Alcohol, tobacco, cannabis and other drugs - during puberty, young people often have their first experiences with various addictive substances. Parents are often right to worry about the consequences.
The topic should not be taboo in the family, but should be addressed openly and honestly. Education about the health risks is one of the most effective prevention measures. Find out here where you can obtain information and find advice and support services.
What addictions are there?
Addictive substances such as tobacco, alcohol, medication or drugs such as cannabis pose a risk of addiction. The latest study results(1), published by the Federal Centre for Health Education on World Drug Day on 26.6.2022, show that while the figures for alcohol and tobacco consumption are declining, cannabis consumption among young people is increasing at an alarming rate.
However, there is also addictive behavior that manifests itself through overeating or starvation, gambling, shopping or media addiction. Addiction occurs, for example, when the person concerned compulsively starves themselves, regularly drinks themselves into a frenzy, can no longer stop gambling or uncontrollably buys things that are not needed and used.
1*) The study report is available for download at: www.bzga.de/forschung/studien/abgeschlossene-studien/studien-ab-1997/suchtpraevention/
Does the risk of addiction increase when children become young adults?
Between the ages of 16 and 18, young people increasingly want to go their own way. Many test boundaries and growing freedoms and rebel against their parents. The influence of friends increases. In the clique, at parties and festivals, tobacco, alcohol, cannabis or party drugs come into play at some point. You will not be able to completely avoid this experimentation.
It becomes problematic when addictive substances become permanent "escape aids" because conflicts and problems no longer seem solvable without addictive substances. However, you can actively support your child in clearly recognizing the risks of addictive substances and dealing with them responsibly.
Where can we find help and advice?
If your child tests their limits on the way to adulthood, this is normal and not immediately a cause for concern. It often remains a temporary phase. However, if the beginnings develop into serious problems, you can find counseling services here:
Addiction help directory
If you are worried about your child's well-being, you can contact a local specialist addiction prevention center about addiction and drug problems. You can find advice centers in your area via the addiction help directory of the German Centre for Addiction Issues
Infotelefon zur Suchtvorbeugung
This is a telephone information service of the Federal Institute of Public Health (BIÖG) on addiction prevention issues.
Telephone 0221 892031
(available Mondays to Thursdays from 10 am to 10 pm, Fridays to Sundays from 10 am to 6 pm)
Addiction & Drugs Hotline
This number can be used to contact telephone drug helplines that have joined forces on the initiative of the Federal Institute of Public Health (BIÖG) and offer advice for those affected and their relatives.
Telephone 01806 313031 (available around the clock)
Non-smoking advice line for young people and adults
This is a telephone information service of the Federal Institute of Public Health (BIÖG) on the subject of (non) smoking and stopping smoking.
Telephone 0800 8 31 31 31 (available Mondays to Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Fridays to Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.)
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