Legal context
European countries vary widely, from decriminalisation and diversion models to criminal penalties, with growing debate on cannabis regulation and health-led responses.
Health response (HRI 2024)
Harm Reduction International (2024) reports at least one operational service in Germany: needle & syringe programmes, opioid agonist therapy, drug consumption rooms, take-home naloxone, peer naloxone distribution, safer smoking kits. Inside prisons: NSP and OAT. National policy documents include an explicit supportive reference to harm reduction.
Youth leadership
Youth participation often happens through civil-society coalitions, student movements, municipal consultations and European-level advocacy networks.
Cannabis Act 2024 permits adult non-commercial use.
Drug policy briefing
What young people should know about drug policy in Germany
Decriminalisation
Cannabis legal for adultsThe 2024 Cannabis Act (CanG) legalised personal cannabis use, home cultivation and cannabis social clubs. Other substances remain criminalised.
Evidence · Cannabis Act (CanG) 2024.
Harm Reduction
Established, expandingOAT, needle exchange and drug consumption rooms operate in most large cities; drug-checking is expanding.
Evidence · BZgA; EMCDDA.
Youth Participation
Advisory roleYouth and civil society organisations participate in federal and Länder drug policy consultations.
Evidence · BZgA.
Treatment Systems
Statutory insuranceTreatment is covered by statutory health insurance with broad OAT availability.
Evidence · BZgA; EMCDDA.
Sources · Harm Reduction International, Global State of Harm Reduction 2024 · UNODC · WHO · EMCDDA/EUDA · national laws and civil-society monitoring. Last reviewed Harm Reduction International 2024.
Start locally
No active SSDP chapter is listed for Germany yet. Young people can start with peer education, coalition-building and the chapter starter pathway.
Open pathwayCompare policy
Use Policy Lab to compare Germany with countries that have decriminalisation, harm reduction or youth-participation reforms.
Open pathwayFind support
If someone needs urgent medical, legal or crisis support, use the help pathway and contact qualified local services.
Open pathway