Alarming addiction figures: Over 300,000 in hospital because of alcohol!

Alarming addiction figures: Over 300,000 in hospital because of alcohol!

Alcohol abuse is a hot topic and is anything but a marginal problem in Germany. With over 300,000 people needing medical attention for alcohol abuse last year, this diagnosis ranks on the second most common list of hospitalizations. A sad aspect: almost 22,000 of these patients were children and adolescents. Loud Barnim Current The problem is also reflected in the increasing dependence on cannabis and media, while the smoking rate is actually decreasing.

Alcohol consumption, which is culturally accepted in Germany, shows some alarming figures. Around 14 percent of adults, which corresponds to around 7.4 million people, consume alcohol in a way that is harmful to their health. The exact numbers speak volumes: 3.1 percent of the population has harmful alcohol use, and 3.4 percent meet the criteria for alcohol dependence. This means that around 1.8 million Germans are affected by this. Medical Journal also reports that around 74,000 people lose their lives to harmful consumption every year.

Causes and consequences

The causes for this critical condition are diverse. Consuming alcohol not only leads to serious health problems, but also has a massive impact on the social and professional lives of those affected. 7.9 million adults in Germany are affected by risky consumption, and the economic costs are estimated at 25.4 billion euros per year. In addition to physical illnesses, alcohol consumption can also lead to psychological problems such as depression and anxiety disorders, making the situation even more complicated DHS explained.

The next event as part of the “Medical Tuesday” series on September 16th in the Paul-Wunderlich-Haus will examine this issue in detail. The senior physician Dr. Sebastian Erbe from the Center for Mental Health will not only talk about the current challenges, but also show possible solutions.

Therapy and prevention

Therapeutic measures are crucial when it comes to treating alcohol addiction. The process includes early intervention, acute therapy, and detoxification and cessation treatments. It is alarming that without subsequent therapeutic intervention, up to 85 percent of detoxifications end in a relapse. Holistic approaches and drug treatment methods, such as acamprosate or naltrexone, are increasingly being discussed.

Preventing alcohol abuse begins at an early age. Maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy leads to approximately 4,000 cases of fetal alcohol syndrome annually, another example of how alcohol abuse has far-reaching consequences that extend beyond the individual.

What remains to be done? Education and awareness are therefore the keys to a better informed society. If the numbers don't change soon, we must ask ourselves how we as a community can effectively address the issue of addiction.