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Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
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Readable research linked to original sources
Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
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Readable research linked to original sources
Browse normalized, publication-ready research with direct links to its evidence and source.
39 articles
Newest firstCannabis use can have detrimental effects on adolescents' mental health, often co-occurring with child and adolescent psychiatric disorders (CAPD). This study assessed diagnostic prevalence trends in cannabis-related disorders and co-occurring diagnosed CAPD in adolescents receiving outpatient treatment in Germany. Outpatient claims data from the national public health insurance system, covering almost 4 million c…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background In April 2024, Germany legalised adult cannabis possession and cultivation, and in August 2024 established legal THC-limits for driving. This study aimed to examine short-term impacts on (1) cannabis use and (2) driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC), and (3) investigates the extent of DUIC involving cannabis combined with alcohol or other drugs (DUIC(+)). Methods Data came from two cross-sectio…
Open article record in new tab ↗BackgroundOne year after the partial legalisation of cannabis, the effects on cannabis use among young people in Germany were investigated.MethodsBased on twelve representative studies from 2008 to 2025, changes in the 12-month prevalence of cannabis use among 12- to 17-year-old adolescents and 18- to 25-year-old young adults were presented, and trends over time were estimated.ResultsAmong female and male adolesce…
Open article record in new tab ↗Globally, cannabis ranks third in psychoactive substance prevalence after nicotine and alcohol, with heavy use linked to psychosis, anxiety, and depression. However, real-time data on how legal reforms influence consumption remain scarce. This Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) study analyzed daily cannabis use patterns before and after Germany's recreational cannabis decriminalization in April 2024 in 49 indiv…
BACKGROUND: Medical cannabis legislation in Germany shifted significantly with the Medical Cannabis Act in March 2017, enabling physician prescriptions under specific conditions, and further evolved with the Cannabis Act (CanG) in April 2024, which partially decriminalized cannabis for adult non-medical use and allowed for Cannabis Social Clubs from July 2024. These reforms have prompted considerable public discus…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background and aims While the health hazards of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) are often approximated using in vitro pharmacological parameters as surrogate, this approach fails to consider pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic complexity. This study aimed to develop a practical risk score for SCRAs prevalent in Germany between 2013 and 2021, based on prevalence data and differentiated data on intox…
Background Stigma experienced by individuals with cannabis use disorder (CUD) has been identified as a significant impediment to their engagement with treatment programs. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the effect of sociodemographic factors and familiarity with cannabis on stigmatizing attributions towards adolescent and adult case vignettes of people affected by CUD. Method A quota sampling web survey…
Open article record in new tab ↗Introduction On April 1, 2024, the new cannabis law came into force, legalizing the use of cannabis in Germany. Even before, Cannabis had been one of the most commonly used drugs. However, problematic cannabis use is related to a variety of health risks especially for adolescents and young adults. This study examines the development of cannabis use from adolescence to young adulthood as well as risk and protective…
Open article record in new tab ↗Introduction The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic beginning in 2020 led to significant restrictions on social life and mobility, raising concerns about increased substance use across the general population. To investigate whether the pandemic resulted in quantitative or qualitative changes in alcohol and/or drug use in the context of road traffic, a retrospective analysis of toxicological findings was conducted in the city of…
The German federal government plans to decriminalise cannabis. The impact of this policy on use prevalence, cannabis-related health and legal problems cannot be fully anticipated and should be viewed in context with current trends. We used routine data on (a) cannabis use (population-based surveys), (b) cannabis-related diagnoses (ICD-10 code F12) in outpatient medical settings and (c) minor law offences (register…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background/aim Cannabis consumption in Germany has been on the rise, culminating in the legalization of recreational cannabis in 2024. This shift aims to minimize the harms associated with black-market cannabis, such as exposure to contaminants, while regulating consumption to reduce health risks. The primary aim of this study is to quantitatively assess the net health effects of cannabis legalization in Germany b…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background Refugees seem to be at enhanced risk for substance use disorders. At the same time, they have less access to services and their health needs remain poorly understood. This study aims to evaluate the specific needs of refugees as compared to German-born individuals seeking help for substance use disorders. Methods We conducted an observational case-control study using all treatment episodes in outpatient…
Background On April 1st, 2024, Germany legalized recreational cannabis use under specific conditions. While policymakers extensively debated this change, the perspectives of healthcare providers who will address its consequences remain understudied. This study aims to characterize primary care physicians' experiences with cannabis-consuming patients and their expectations regarding the effects of legalization. Met…
Open article record in new tab ↗Over-the-counter cannabidiol (CBD) products are showing substantial growth in marked share in recent years. However, the knowledge about health effects of these products is currently weak. In an explorative, retrospective online survey, the reasons for consumption, possible health-promoting or therapeutic effects, and adverse effects among CBD consumers in Germany were investigated. The anonymous questionnaire was…
Open article record in new tab ↗Substance use (SU) and physical activity (PA) among university students changed with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we examined factors associated with SU and PA and profiles of these health behaviours in university students in Germany 20 months into the pandemic. A cross-sectional study on student well-being during the COVID 19-pandemic was conducted in October/November 2021 at five German…
Background Despite its increasing prevalence among the public, cannabis use is still perceived as deviant behavior and consequently stigmatized. However, there remains a paucity of understanding regarding the impact of this stigma on patients employing cannabis for therapeutic purposes. This qualitative research endeavored to explore the stigma experiences of medical cannabis (MC) users in Germany, aiming to disce…
Open article record in new tab ↗Background Digital interventions have been successfully used to address addictive behaviors in adolescents and young adults. However, maintaining consistent usage remains a challenge. There is limited evidence on the determinants of usage with multiple behavioral interventions among vocational students. Objective This paper aims to describe how vocational school students used the app-based addiction prevention pro…
Background Patients with mental health conditions represent a significant concern in emergency departments, consistently ranking as the third or fourth most prevalent diagnoses during consultations. Globally, over the past two decades, there was a marked increase in such incidences, largely driven by a rise in nonurgent visits related to somatic complaints. However, the implications of these nonurgent visits for m…
Background Endometriosis has a significant negative impact on women's lives. Unfortunately, current medical treatments often fail to provide adequate pain relief and may cause intolerable side effects. Although many women experiencing primary dysmenorrhoea employ self-management strategies to help alleviate period-related symptoms, there is a paucity of knowledge about how women with endometriosis manage their sym…
Background With the passage of the Consumer Cannabis Act, cannabis was partially legalised on 1 April 2024 in Germany. Cannabis remains prohibited for adolescents under the age of 18. This article analyses how the prevalence of cannabis use among young people in Germany has developed up to this point and presents prevention measures and funding projects offered by the Federal Institute of Public Health (BIÖG, form…
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