Substance Use Treatment In Germany

"The German National Strategy on Drug and Addiction Policy focuses on treatment and counselling alongside prevention and early intervention. In Germany, the responsibility for the implementation of drug treatment lies with the federal Länder and the municipalities. Available treatments range from low-threshold contacts and counselling services to intensive treatment and therapy in specialised inpatient facilities. Long-term treatment options exist in the form of opioid substitution treatment (OST), long-term rehabilitative treatment and social reintegration options.

"Special guidelines are available for the treatment of opioid dependency and psychological and behavioural problems related to the use of cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines, MDMA/ecstasy and hallucinogens. In recent years, guidelines for the treatment of methamphetamine-related disorders and recommendations on how to deal with somatic and psychosomatic comorbidity have also been developed. Funding for treatment is provided by many organisations: the Länder, pension and health insurance bodies, the municipalities, communities, charities, private institutions and companies.

"Family doctors play a special role, as they are often the first point of contact for drug users and at-risk individuals. At the core of the dependency support system lie addiction counselling and treatment centres, psychiatric outpatient institutes, facilities for integration support and therapy facilities. Psychiatric clinics are also important in the drug treatment system. Most treatment facilities are provided by charitable bodies. State and commercial organisations are involved mainly in the provision of inpatient treatment. Most drug treatment takes place in centres and institutions that deal with dependence in general, although there are some treatment units specifically for illicit drug users.

"Outpatient counselling centres provide psychosocial care and psychotherapy and are often an entry point for clients. These centres provide treatment either directly using their own resources or in collaboration with general practitioners who are specifically qualified in addiction medicine.

"Psychiatric facilities for dependency represent the second major pillar of drug treatment in Germany. A wide range of services are provided in these facilities, including low-threshold, detoxification treatment, crisis interventions, complex treatments for comorbidity and planning for reintegration. Detoxification can also be administered in therapeutic communities. In the integration and aftercare phase, a varied range of services relating to employment, housing and reintegration into society are provided. A number of new treatment programmes addressing cannabis users specifically are offered by treatment providers. OST with methadone was introduced in 1992, buprenorphine in 2000 and heroin-assisted treatment in 2010. OST is offered mainly by the primary healthcare system, with about 10 % of inpatient facilities providing this treatment."