Overview
- Bavaria's state government has overhauled its drug policy principles for the first time since 2007, incorporating new addiction types and usage patterns.
- The updated policy identifies internet and gaming addiction as growing public health concerns, with nearly a third of Bavarian youths exhibiting problematic media use.
- Despite federal legalization of cannabis consumption rooms, Bavaria continues to oppose their implementation and enforces strict cannabis monitoring and public-use restrictions.
- The guidelines aim to reduce legal substance use, promote addiction-free upbringing, and ensure accessible prevention and treatment services.
- In 2024, Bavaria recorded 214 drug-related poisoning deaths, highlighting the ongoing challenges of illegal substance use alongside emerging digital dependencies.