Addiction counseling in Nordhorn: Urgent need for support is growing!

Addiction counseling in Nordhorn: Urgent need for support is growing!

Addiction counseling in Germany is facing an alarming challenge! More and more people are seeking help at the Ecumenical Specialist Addiction Clinic (ÖFaS) in Nordhorn, and the numbers speak for themselves: 794 clients were advised in 2023, an increase of 12 percent compared to the previous year. "The need is huge! If it were financially possible, we could easily hire two more people," explains an employee of Compass-Diakonie-Caritas. The motto of the Addiction Counseling Action Day on November 14th is: “Strengthening addiction counseling, protecting health” – and that is more necessary than ever!

Complex problems require quick help

The clients come from all age groups and social classes, and the problems are often complex. “It is no longer just the craftsman who has become addicted to his after-work beer,” says Holger Terhorst from ÖFaS. Addiction is often just one part of a larger problem that also includes debt or family difficulties. The ÖFaS offers advice, prevention and outpatient rehabilitation, with alcohol being the main diagnosis in 73 percent of cases. But many sufferers shy away from therapy for fear of social isolation.

The situation is exacerbated by an acute shortage of skilled workers and increasing demands on advice centers. “The relatives are often part of the problem,” says Terhorst. Parents who let their children get away with too much contribute to the problem. At the same time, financial support from the district is not sufficient despite the strained budget situation. “We are under considerable pressure,” warns Sandra Mennemann. The ÖFaS tries to offer appointments as quickly as possible, but the high demand often leads to delays. Help is also available anonymously via the “DigiSucht” portal to make access easier for those affected.