“Am I addicted?” That short question started a chat conversation with a young adult a few weeks ago. It was the start of my shift and the chat conversation immediately started very concretely.

“What makes you wonder that?” was my question. He, at least I think it was a boy, told me that he had been smoking weed for two weeks. Several times a day and now he couldn't stop. He was concerned about what this was doing to him physically. Was it physically pharmful what he did and was it too late to turn it aroud? That idea frightened him greatly.

When I asked how he started, he told me it was at a party. Just, with friends, he was curious what it would be like. Sure, he knew it wasn't good for him, but the curiosity won out and everyone did it, right?

No, he hadn't talked about it with those around him yet. He knew what his mother would say, because she certainly disapproved of it. And his friends think it's the most natural thing in the world, so talking to them about this was pointless.

That's why he tried it with us first, he had come across us on Instagram. “It's also nice that it can be done via chat,” he said. “And I'm glad you're trying,” I replied.

As a volunteer, of course, I don't have all the answers. I indicated that I fully understood that he wanted to stop and suggested that we look for information together on the internet. A lot of help is offered, but which one suits your situation? We came across a special project about youth and weed. It was a project with him in the city, which was handy. And it was about Jellinek: an organization with a good name, to which we often refer young people.

In the training we learn that we can devise a first step together with the young adult, but that the direction always lies with the young adult. It seemed a good idea to this boy to contact the information number on the site of the organization in question. A feasible first step that immediately brought a lot of peace. I noticed that he liked having some control back.

Did he call the number and what came out? I don't know. I don't need to know that either. “But if it doesn't work out, just come back to us,” I said. “Then we will look further together”. I end the conversation with a good feeling. I really hope he succeeds!