Drugs and addiction
Relevance of drugs and alcohol to mental health
Alcohol and drugs are addictive substances that have a considerable influence on our well-being in the short, medium and long term and can trigger mental illnesses or disorders. Although short-term consequences of alcohol and/or drug consumption can initially be that stress is reduced, because through consumption a certain relaxation occurs, one can get out of everyday life and better switch off. The medium-term consequences of drug use (including 'grass' use) can be psychoses. Alcohol intoxications can also occur in the medium term, and even alcohol dementia in the case of long-term consumption. In the case of drugs in particular, long-term use can lead to a flattening of the personality, which can occur after just one to two years of regular drug use.
The situation of illegal drugs in Germany
The handling of psychoactive substances in Germany is regulated by a whole series of laws. The best known is probably the Narcotics Law (BtMG). There is also the New Psychoactive Substances Act (NpSG), the Narcotic Drugs Prescription Ordinance (BtMVV), the Basic Substance Surveillance Act (GÜG) and the Act on the Trade with Medicinal Products.
In the case of drugs, a basic distinction must always be made between consumption and acquisition and possession. The former is not prohibited in Germany, but the latter is punishable by law. Violations of the Narcotics Act are punishable by imprisonment or a fine. There are always innovations in drug policy, for example in March 2017, when the 'Cannabis als Medizin' (Cannabis as medicine) law came into force. Or in October 2017, when new regulations on opioid substitution came into force.
Source: Short report on the situation of illegal drugs in Germany. Based on the REITOX report 2017 to the EMCDDA (data year 2016/2017)
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