1. Accessing Cannabis Users – Survey on Good Practice Approaches
International conference: “Prevention and therapy of cannabis disturbances in Europe: status, projects, need for development”
Berlin, March 2007
This document should only be used in the context of an oral presentation.
Isolated use of individual slides could lead to misunderstandings.

2. Initial situation Cannabis is the most-used illegal drug in Europe
Increased professional and public awareness of (problematic) cannabis use
Increased demand for (addiction-specific) care (from drug addiction treatment and psychiatric services)
Low number of young cannabis users reached by drug addiction treatment centres 2

3. Consequences
Developing target group-specific and needs-oriented programmes
Improving access and promoting acceptance of the programmes
Differentiating programmes according to risk groups
Training workers
etc. 3

4. Task
Identification and analysis of good practice approaches in terms of accessing young cannabis users:
in drug addiction treatment
and in other related fields
Features of the target group
Cannabis use
Up to the age of 21 (in some cases, 27)
Involvement of dependents / important reference persons 4

5. Period of the survey and evaluation:
Question
Why is it that certain centres and/or projects have more success in reaching young cannabis users than others?
Period of the survey and evaluation:
January – June 2006 5

6. Research aspects Which (specific) programmes are provided?
How did they come into being?
How are young cannabis users accessed?
What is the project/ programme structure like?
Which preconditions exist in terms of infrastructure and organisation?
What guidelines, basic assumptions, attitudes and training are they based upon?

7. Process
Researching projects that have ‘above average’ success in reaching young cannabis users or offer specific programmes for the target group, using, for example:
Databases, specialist libraries
Specialist journals
Publications from professional associations
Internet research
Responsible regional authorities and professional associations 6

8. Large-scale questionnaire (N = 177 centres)
16%
72%
12%
No information (N = 29)
Centres with additional information (N = 20)
Centres with written answers (N = 128) 7

9. Types of programmes (N = 156)
56%
28% 3%
12% 1%
Individual projects (N = 86)
Standard programmes (N = 44)
Special facilities (N = 19)
Outpatient clinics (N = 2)
Prevention centres (N = 5) 9

10. Range of programmes (selection) I
100%
81%
80%
62%
60%
40%
24%
26%
17%
19%
17%
20% 0%
Individual counselling
Training course
Psychotherapy
Online advice
Experiential education
Cannabis consultation
Outpatient rehabilitation 10

11. Range of programmes (selection) II
100%
80%
63%
60%
49%
45%
40%
17%
21%
20% 0%
Advising institutions
Counselling of parents etc.
Parental courses
Outreach work
Multiplier work 11

12. Reaching of target group
2005
Approx. 13,000 persons reached in total Average no. reached per project/centre, etc:
Individual projects (65)
Specialised drug treatment centres (158)
Outpatient psychiatric clinics (280)
Drug prevention centres (170) 12

13. Reaching of target group
Age groups (N=105)
aged 18 and below %
19-21 years old %
22-27 years old 19.1 %

14. Access routes (N = 159 projects)
16%
17%
26%
18%
23%
Self-referrals
Parents/dependents
Judiciary, police, juvenile courts and probation services
Schools, youth services
Other (including companies, hospitals, doctors) 13

15. Due to compulsory orders 85 % Exclusively voluntarily 15 %
Access routes (N = 159)
Due to compulsory orders 85 %
Exclusively voluntarily 15 %
Considerable “parental influence” 14

16. In-depth survey (N = 24 projects)
Inclusion of various information sources and evaluation of relevant projects (e.g. FreD, realize it, Inside-at-school)
Evaluation of materials (e.g. concepts, annual reports)
Conducting an in-depth (oral) survey 8

17. In-depth survey (N = 24 projects)
Criteria for selection included:
Considerable number reached
Comprehensive range of programmes
Federal states, urban/rural areas, Switzerland, Austria
Cooperation with related care sectors

18. Measures for improving access
Public relations work
Cooperation agreements
Public prosecution service and judiciary
Youth services and schools
Work and employment 15

19. (Structural) regulatory frameworks
Regional planning and responsibilities
Cooperation with youth and psychiatric care services
Specific intervention concepts in school settings 16

20. (Organisational) regulatory frameworks
(Traditional) youth and drug counselling centres
New facilities with a focus on “Youth and Addiction”
Self-evaluation and “new image”
Risk assessment of using cannabis
(Conceptual) further development
Worker training 17

21. Recommendations Improving access by:
developing sustainable forms of cooperation
“from probationary orders to medical referrals”
PR work, increasing profile and improving image
“from drug counselling to citizen-friendly services”
developing programmes
“from individual projects to a comprehensive range of services” 18