Understanding why young cannabis users struggle to seek help

This qualitative study examined why young people struggle to seek help for problematic cannabis use, interviewing 4 people with lived experience and 14 treatment professionals in Finland. The research identified four critical barriers and facilitators: capability (whether people feel able to address the issue), awareness (understanding that help exists and is needed), stigma (social judgment and shame), and prioritization (how important seeking help is relative to other concerns). These factors work together to create a complex treatment gap, where many young people who need support don't access it.

The study reveals that help-seeking for problematic cannabis use isn't simply a personal choice—it's shaped by social, cultural, and structural constraints that professionals and users encounter differently. Young people face systemic barriers like limited accessibility to services, insufficient outreach, and professional knowledge gaps, while also contending with social stigma that discourages disclosure. The research emphasizes that stigma around cannabis use remains a major obstacle, preventing young people from seeking professional support even when they recognize they have a problem.

The findings point to clear development priorities: services need improved accessibility and targeted outreach, professionals require better training on cannabis issues, and young people need more education about available help. Importantly, the study advocates for a coordinated, youth-centered approach that simultaneously builds awareness, reduces stigma, and increases capability—rather than addressing these barriers in isolation. This comprehensive strategy must involve young people directly in designing solutions that genuinely meet their needs and reduce the treatment gap for problematic cannabis use.