Help-Seeking for Problematic Cannabis Use Among Young People: A Qualitative Study with Professionals and People with...

The growing need for help for problematic cannabis use, reflected in outpatient service access, suggests a widening treatment gap. Various influencing factors have contributed to a complex phenomenon in which help-seeking is shaped not only by personal wishes and needs but also by broader social, cultural, and structural constraints.

This study explored the factors influencing help-seeking related to problematic cannabis use as well as the development needs for addressing these issues.

This qualitative descriptive study involved semi-structured interviews conducted in substance abuse treatment facilities in Finland. Four people with lived experiences of problematic cannabis use were interviewed along with 14 professionals who worked with this population. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

The influencing factors were categorized as either promoting or hindering help-seeking and are described as counterparts to each other. Four main themes emerged: capability, awareness, stigma, and prioritization. Development needs centered on improving accessibility, strengthening outreach and education, and increasing knowledge among professionals and young people.

This study highlights the multifaced nature of cannabis-related help-seeking among young people. The promotion of help-seeking requires a broad coordinated approach that simultaneously strengthens awareness, builds capability, improves accessibility, and reduces stigma. Such efforts should be implemented in ways that involve young people and that genuinely respond to their needs.