“Targeted support for those affected by alcohol addiction is important,” says Dunja Kleis, State Managing Director of BARMER in Rhineland-Palatinate and Saarland. Anyone who suspects they have a drinking problem should openly discuss their alcohol misuse with their general practitioner. Addiction counseling can also be a good first point of contact to begin detoxification.
Rhineland-Palatinate with the lowest proportion of alcohol addicts
According to BARMER, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania had the highest proportion of people addicted to alcohol per 10,000 inhabitants in 2022 (235), followed by Bremen (228). The fewest alcohol addicts lived in Rhineland-Palatinate (146). "The massive regional differences in alcohol dependence cannot be explained medically alone but are probably due to sociodemographic factors. According to our nationwide evaluations, the risk of alcohol dependence increases with age," explains Kleis. Furthermore, men are affected more often than women. Because alcohol dependence develops gradually and alcohol addiction can remain hidden for a long time, it often takes affected individuals up to ten years from the first symptoms to therapy and alcohol withdrawal.
