Inquiries about addiction are increasing again among Austrian young people, as the latest figures from Rat auf Draht, the emergency number for children and young people, show. In 2023, the number of consultations on this topic rose by nine percent compared to the previous year, to a total of 859. Drugs and medication were the main topic with 383 consultations, followed by alcohol with 235 consultations and smoking or nicotine with 138 consultations. Interestingly, more boys and young men (59.37 percent) are seeking advice and information on addiction than girls and young women (40.28 percent). A small number of inquiries are from various clients (0.23 percent) and are unknown (0.12 percent) (www.ots.at).
The topics of the inquiries are as varied as the different types of addiction. For example, young people call to obtain legal information, such as the consequences if they are caught using drugs. Questions about the effects of certain substances are also frequently asked. Some young people themselves recognize that they have a problem and want to know how they can reduce their consumption or stop it altogether. They also look for suitable contact points for help and support. Others, on the other hand, do not want to acknowledge their addiction problem and try to gloss over it. In such cases, Rat auf Draht places great emphasis on education and raising awareness. In addition, the influence of the drug-consuming partner on the relationship also plays a role (www.ots.at).
The increase in inquiries about smoking and nicotine is particularly worrying. Over the last four years, the number of inquiries has increased by a total of 86.49 percent. The consumption of tobacco-free nicotine pouches is particularly popular with many young people, although in Austria it is only permitted for people over 18. Peer pressure in particular plays a major role here. Young people want to belong and therefore try nicotine pouches. Rat auf Draht also receives calls from young people who are in an overdose phase and are suffering from nausea or dizziness. They are looking for tips on how to stop using. Rat auf Draht focuses on education, information and prevention on this topic. The aim is to raise awareness that nicotine pouches are not harmless and to educate young people about the risks (www.ots.at).
Rat auf Draht is financed mainly by donations. Anyone who would like to support the service can donate to the donation account with the IBAN AT10 2011 1827 1734 4400. On the Rat auf Draht website, young people can find an advice article specifically on the subject of tobacco-free nicotine pouches as well as an extensive collection of articles on the subject of addiction (www.ots.at).
Source: die-nachrichten.at
