Wegweiser Addiction · Help & Rights Deutsch

🧭 Overview: help with addiction

What counts as an addiction, how addiction help is organised in Germany – and where to find which help on these pages.

addiction addiction help system DHS BIÖG (formerly BZgA) Epidemiological Survey of Substance Abuse (ESA)

In brief

In the professional understanding, "addiction" covers both substance-related dependencies (alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, other illegal drugs, medication) and non-substance gambling addiction. According to the Epidemiologischer Suchtsurvey (ESA) 2024, around 4.2 % of adults aged 18 to 64 in Germany are affected by alcohol dependence; in addition, millions of people have risky use of, or dependence on, tobacco, medication or other substances.

Germany has no single "addiction law". Help, treatment and rights are spread across many Social Code books (SGB II, V, VI, VIII, IX), narcotics law (BtMG) and the Interstate Treaty on Gambling. These pages guide you from first advice through withdrawal, substitution treatment and rehab to legal questions about work, driving licence, debt and family.

The professional umbrella organisation is the Deutsche Hauptstelle für Suchtfragen (DHS, German Centre for Addiction Issues); since February 2025, the Bundesinstitut für Öffentliche Gesundheit (BIÖG, formerly Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung/BZgA) has been responsible for education and prevention.

Step by step

  1. Get your bearingsRead up on the topics relevant to you or call a hotline directly (see "Advice and contact points").
  2. Contact an advice centreAddiction advice centres can be reached anonymously if you wish, free of charge and without a referral (see "Finding addiction counselling").
  3. Work out the next steps togetherWhether withdrawal, substitution treatment, rehab, a self-help group or legal questions – the advice centre helps you find the right path and the responsible funding bodies.

Deadlines

2 weeks
Deadline for the social benefit provider first approached to check whether it is responsible for a rehab application and, if necessary, to forward it.§ 14 Abs. 1 SGB IX
1 month
Standard deadline for an objection (Widerspruch) against notices of decision (Bescheide) from the Jobcenter, pension insurance or health insurance.§ 84 SGG
no legal entitlement
There is no uniform individual legal entitlement to addiction counselling itself nationwide; it is mostly a discretionary service of the local authority.§ 16a SGB II; DHS position 2023
Watch out – common mistakes
  • There is no nationwide legal entitlement to an addiction counselling or therapy place "at the push of a button" – waiting times and services differ depending on the municipality and funding body.
  • Many services (rehab, substitution treatment, withdrawal) require a formal application to a specific provider – without an application, costs are usually not covered.
  • If you are in acute danger (e.g. withdrawal delirium, overdose, suicidal thoughts), do not wait for an advice appointment but call the emergency services (112) or go to an emergency department.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Legal framework: no uniform addiction law

Addiction help is spread across, among others: SGB V (medical treatment, withdrawal), SGB VI (rehabilitation/addiction treatment), SGB II (basic income support, integration benefits including addiction counselling under § 16a Nr. 4 SGB II), SGB VIII (child and youth welfare), SGB IX (participation, procedural deadlines), the Narcotics Act (BtMG, including § 35 "treatment instead of punishment") and the Interstate Treaty on Gambling 2021 (GlüStV).

Figures (ESA 2024)

According to the ESA 2024 (BMG/IFT München, survey of ages 18–64), the 30-day prevalence of alcohol use was 68.6 % (around 35.3 million people), and the dependence rate 4.2 %. For tobacco, a dependence rate of 8.3 % is reported; for cannabis, 12-month use of 9.8 % with a dependence rate of 1.0 %. Gambling is not part of the ESA; there is a separate Glücksspielsurvey for it (see topic page "Gambling addiction").

Structure of addiction help

According to the DHS, there are around 1,300 to 1,400 outpatient addiction advice centres nationwide (different DHS subpages give slightly different values). According to a DHS report of 26 September 2024, around three quarters of publicly funded addiction advice centres cannot fully cover their costs; the DHS therefore demands a statutory legal entitlement to funding, which does not currently exist.

Uncertain/not conclusively clarified

The exact nationwide number of advice centres, the exact distribution by provider and up-to-date waiting times are not documented centrally and uniformly; if in doubt, ask the local advice centre directly.

Who is responsible
  • Local addiction advice centre (first point of contact for almost all questions)
  • Health insurance fund (Krankenkasse) (withdrawal, medical treatment)
  • Deutsche Rentenversicherung (German pension insurance) (addiction treatment/rehab for people in work)
  • Jobcenter (integration benefits incl. addiction counselling under § 16a SGB II)
Further reading
Finding addiction counsellingAdvice and contact pointsWithdrawal and detoxification

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Overview: help with addiction“?
What counts as an addiction, how addiction help is organised in Germany – and where to find which help on these pages.
Which deadlines and figures matter?
  • 2 weeks: Deadline for the social benefit provider first approached to check whether it is responsible for a rehab application and, if necessary, to forward it. (§ 14 Abs. 1 SGB IX)
  • 1 month: Standard deadline for an objection (Widerspruch) against notices of decision (Bescheide) from the Jobcenter, pension insurance or health insurance. (§ 84 SGG)
  • no legal entitlement: There is no uniform individual legal entitlement to addiction counselling itself nationwide; it is mostly a discretionary service of the local authority. (§ 16a SGB II; DHS position 2023)
What should I do first?
  • Get your bearings: Read up on the topics relevant to you or call a hotline directly (see "Advice and contact points").
  • Contact an advice centre: Addiction advice centres can be reached anonymously if you wish, free of charge and without a referral (see "Finding addiction counselling").
  • Work out the next steps together: Whether withdrawal, substitution treatment, rehab, a self-help group or legal questions – the advice centre helps you find the right path and the responsible funding bodies.
What do I need to watch out for?
  • There is no nationwide legal entitlement to an addiction counselling or therapy place "at the push of a button" – waiting times and services differ depending on the municipality and funding body.
  • Many services (rehab, substitution treatment, withdrawal) require a formal application to a specific provider – without an application, costs are usually not covered.
  • If you are in acute danger (e.g. withdrawal delirium, overdose, suicidal thoughts), do not wait for an advice appointment but call the emergency services (112) or go to an emergency department.
Evidence
  • Epidemiologischer Suchtsurvey (ESA) 2024, BMG/IFT München (esa-survey.de)
  • DHS, "Versorgungssystem" and "Suchtberatung", dhs.de (retrieved 09/2026)
  • DHS, report on the funding of addiction advice centres in Germany, 26 September 2024
  • § 16a SGB II; § 14 SGB IX; § 84 SGG (gesetze-im-internet.de)
  • BMG press release of 13 February 2025: renaming of BZgA to BIÖG
As of

As of September 2026. Figures from ESA 2024 (survey year 2024); legal status September 2026. · Sources and method

A question about your situation that this page does not answer? Write to us or use the contact form – we will tell you which office is responsible and what to bring. Free of charge, without individual legal advice.