Riskanter Cannabiskonsum: Vorschlag einer Arbeitsdefinition

 

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Zusammenfassung

Cannabiskonsum ist ein Risikofaktor für somatische und psychische Erkrankungen sowie für (Verkehrs-)Unfälle. Das Fehlen einer einheitlichen Definition riskanten Cannabiskonsums erschwert derzeit die Kommunikation von Gesundheitsrisiken und damit eine effektive Cannabisprävention sowie die Früherkennung in klinischer Praxis. Zudem mindert sie die Vergleichbarkeit von Studienergebnissen. Es bestehen in der Literatur unterschiedliche Ansätze riskanten Cannabiskonsum zu definieren, z. B. mittels Konsumfrequenz oder durch standardisierte Screeninginstrumente (z. B. CAST oder SDS). Anhand von vier Kriterien für eine Definition (einfach, verhaltensbasiert, kontinuierlich und evidenzbasiert) diskutieren wir die Passung unterschiedlicher Ansätze der Definition von riskantem Cannabiskonsum. Auf dieser Grundlage haben wir einen Vorschlag für eine dreiteilige Arbeitsdefinition für riskanten Cannabiskonsum erarbeitet: 1. Es gibt keinen risikofreien Konsum; 2. Es wird empfohlen, dass Cannabis grundsätzlich von verschiedenen Personengruppen bzw. in bestimmten Situationen vermieden werden sollte; 3. Konsumierende steigern ihre Gesundheitsrisiken durch drei Verhaltensweisen: höhere Konsumfrequenz, höhere THC-Konsummenge an Konsumtagen, Rauchen statt Verdampfen, insb. zusammen mit Tabak. Zukünftig könnten Risikozonen (z. B. niedriges vs. moderates vs. hohes Risiko) durch Schwellenwerte auf Basis empirischer Arbeiten bestimmt werden.

Abstract

Cannabis use is a risk factor for somatic and mental illnesses as well as (road) accidents. The lack of a uniform definition of risky cannabis use currently impedes the communication of health risks and thus effective cannabis prevention and early detection in clinical practice. It also reduces the comparability of study results. There are various approaches in the literature to defining risky cannabis use, e. g. by means of frequency of use or standardised screening instruments (e. g. CAST or SDS). Using four criteria for a definition (simple, behaviour-based, continuous and evidence-based), we discuss the fit of different approaches to defining risky cannabis use. On this basis, we have developed a proposal for a working definition of risky cannabis use consisting of three parts: 1. There is no risk-free consumption. 2. It is recommended that cannabis should generally be avoided by different groups of people or in certain situations. 3. Users increase their health risks through three types of behaviour: higher frequency of use, higher THC consumption on days of use, smoking instead of vaporising, especially together with tobacco. In the future, risk zones (e. g. low vs. moderate vs. high risk) could be determined using threshold values based on empirical studies.

Publication History

Article published online:
13 May 2025

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