Since the partial legalisation of cannabis in Germany on 1 April 2024, the substance has become more visible in public spaces than ever before. Young people are coming into contact with cannabis more frequently, increasing the likelihood that some may develop harmful patterns of use. With »Can-K«, the addiction prevention centre Villa Schöpflin is now launching a model project to explore how cannabis prevention can be expanded and standardised across Germany.
For more than 20 years, our subsidiary organisation has supported young people and their families through counselling and prevention programmes related to cannabis use. In addition to one-to-one counselling, the centre offers »Cannabis – quo vadis?«, an interactive prevention workshop for schools from Year 8 onwards in the region. Through nationwide training programmes, teachers and school social workers are also enabled to deliver the workshops independently at their own locations.
A Model for the Prevention of Tomorrow
To date, there has been no systematic municipal prevention approach for problematic cannabis use. Coordinated regional structures, procedures and measures—particularly for children, adolescents and young adults—are largely absent. With »Can-K«, Villa Schöpflin is now testing approaches designed to reach young people early and provide effective support. The model project is conceived as a multi-year development and research process. Villa Schöpflin will develop measures that will be tested at eight pilot locations across Germany and subsequently evaluated scientifically. One of these locations will be Lörrach, where sustained networking efforts over recent years have led to the development of reliable local prevention structures. These experiences will play a key role during the conceptual phase and will be combined with findings from the other pilot locations. The aim is to develop a transferable overall concept that can be implemented by municipalities throughout Germany.
The new model project is based on the successful alcohol prevention programme »HaLT – Hart am LimiT«, which Villa Schöpflin developed in 2002 and whose structures it now draws upon. Today, HaLT is implemented at 157 locations across Germany. The programme combines early counselling and intervention for young people who display risky alcohol consumption with prevention work at the municipal level, including networking activities, awareness-raising and training for professionals. This combination of individual support and structural prevention has proven particularly effective. Through »Can-K«, the concept is now being adapted for cannabis prevention.
Two Components for Effective Prevention
The first component, early Intervention and early Detection, is aimed at young people who have had their first experiences with cannabis or who are already showing risky patterns of use. The goal is to engage them in conversation at an early stage and prevent problematic developments. Low-threshold counselling services will be provided through schools, hospitals, counselling centres and digital formats. At the pilot locations, these services will be closely integrated with existing support structures and further developed. In confidential conversations, young people will reflect on their cannabis use, receive information about health risks and, where necessary, be referred to additional support services. The aim is to reach young people without stigmatising them and to provide guidance and orientation.
The second component, municipal cannabis prevention, focuses on the environments in which young people live. The project team aims to consolidate and further develop existing programmes, including prevention activities in schools, services for parents, training opportunities for professionals, as well as initiatives in youth work and leisure settings. The project deliberately builds on the structures already established at HaLT locations and places a particular emphasis on networking local stakeholders in order to make prevention a shared community responsibility.
Dr Silke Diestelkamp, psychologist at the Medical School Hamburg, Dr Christiane Baldus-Firnhaber from the German Centre for Addiction Issues in Childhood and Adolescence, and Dr Heidi Kuttler, developer of the HaLT concept and Managing Director of Villa Schöpflin until 2014, are providing scientific support for »Can-K«. The model project is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Health.