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Addiction affects far more people in Austria than many realize — and it goes well beyond illegal drugs. Whether it's alcohol, nicotine, medication, gambling, or other substances and behaviors, addiction is medically recognized as a treatable illness. Reaching out for help is often the hardest — and most important — first step. This guide explains how common addiction actually is in Austria, where to find support, how treatment works, and who covers the costs.

How common is addiction in Austria?

The current 2025 Drug Report by Gesundheit Österreich GmbH (GÖG, Austria's national public health institute) paints a nuanced picture: the overall situation is largely stable, but consumption patterns are shifting and new risks are emerging — particularly among young people.

Nicotine: About 24% of the population — roughly 1.8 million people — use nicotine products daily. While traditional smoking is declining, e-cigarettes and especially nicotine pouches are rising sharply: 8.4% of teenage boys and 3.6% of teenage girls already use nicotine pouches daily.
Alcohol: About 15% of the population (roughly 1.1 to 1.2 million people) drink at levels that harm their health, and around 5% are considered alcohol-dependent. Men are affected significantly more often than women, and problematic consumption increases with age.
Opioids: An estimated 36,000 to 39,000 people engage in high-risk opioid use. In 2024, 20,939 people were in opioid agonist therapy (substitution treatment) — an established and effective treatment option.
Cannabis and cocaine: About one in five people aged 15 to 64 has used cannabis at least once, making it the most commonly used illegal substance. Around 6% of 15- to 64-year-olds report having used cocaine at least once, with its relevance in treatment settings rising steadily.
Gambling: For the first time, gambling behavior was systematically surveyed in 2025: 4% of the population meet the criteria for at least mild problem gambling, and 1% show a severe form. At the start of treatment, median debt levels reach around €28,000.
Drug-related deaths: In 2024, 257 direct drug-related deaths were recorded, mostly linked to opioids — notably, the share of people under 25 is rising.

Above all, these numbers show that addiction is not a fringe issue — it's a topic that touches many Austrian families directly or indirectly.

Addiction as an illness — the legal perspective in Austria

Austria has followed the principle of "treatment instead of punishment" ("Therapie statt Strafe") for decades. Under Sections 35 and 39 of the Austrian Narcotic Substances Act (Suchtmittelgesetz, SMG), offenses connected to a person's own substance use can be addressed primarily through health-related measures — counseling or treatment — rather than criminal prosecution. The goal is to bring people into the support system as early as possible instead of criminalizing them. This principle underlines how broadly addiction is recognized as a medical condition in Austria.

Where can I find help? Support services in Austria

A key strength of Austria's addiction support system is that the first point of contact is usually free, anonymous, and low-threshold.

Regional addiction counseling centers: Every Austrian federal state (Bundesland) has its own addiction coordination and counseling centers offering initial consultations, support for affected individuals and their families, and referrals to further treatment.
Austrian Suchthilfekompass ("addiction help compass"): A nationwide online directory listing outpatient and inpatient facilities.
Checkit! (Suchthilfe Wien): Counseling specifically for recreational drug and alcohol use among adolescents and young adults — explicitly anonymous, free of charge, and confidential.
Spielerhilfe / regional gambling addiction counseling: Dedicated counseling centers for gambling and behavioral addiction exist in every federal state, also free of charge.
Institut Suchtprävention: Focused on education and prevention, particularly for schools, parents, and young people.

If you're unsure which service or therapist fits your situation, find therapists near you to quickly locate qualified professionals in your region.

How does addiction treatment work?

Addiction treatment in Austria is structured in stages, based on severity and personal circumstances:

Counseling: An initial conversation and assessment, often sufficient for emerging issues.
Outpatient therapy: Regular sessions with psychotherapists, clinical psychologists, or specialized outpatient clinics, while continuing daily life and work.
Day clinic treatment: More intensive daytime care, with patients returning home in the evening.
Inpatient detox and rehabilitation: Specialized facilities such as the Anton Proksch Institut in Vienna support both the physical detox phase and the subsequent rehabilitation therapy on an inpatient basis, with dedicated programs for alcohol, medication, and gambling addiction, drug dependency, and a specific program for 16- to 25-year-olds.
Substitution therapy: For opioid dependency, a medically established long-term treatment used by roughly 21,000 people in Austria in 2024.

What does addiction treatment cost — and who pays?

A central advantage of the Austrian system: addiction treatment is not a question of what you can afford.

Outpatient and inpatient treatment at recognized facilities is covered by the relevant health insurance fund or, if someone has no insurance, by the social welfare provider. Inpatient stays typically involve a statutory co-payment (equivalent to the standard prescription fee); people exempt from prescription fees or receiving social assistance are exempt from this as well.
Sick pay or rehabilitation allowance: An inpatient stay counts as sick leave and must be reported to the employer or the public employment service (AMS); depending on the situation, people are entitled to sick pay.
Psychotherapy for addiction issues: If treatment is provided by a psychotherapist under contract with the health insurance fund ("Kassenplatz"), there is little to no out-of-pocket cost. With a privately practicing therapist of your choice ("Wahltherapeut"), the 2026 ÖGK subsidy is €33.70 per session; clients cover the difference to the full fee themselves, unless an additional subsidy applies through SVS or BVAEB.
Counseling centers, as described above, are generally free and accessible without a referral — a low-threshold first step before any formal diagnosis or therapy even begins.

Prevention: starting early, especially with young people

The current data on nicotine pouch use among teenagers shows just how important prevention is. Organizations like the Institut Suchtprävention work directly with schools, parents, and youth organizations to provide education before problematic use even develops. Parents concerned about their children can also reach out to regional addiction counseling centers — not only once dependency has already taken hold.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is the first contact with an addiction counseling center really free? Yes. Regional addiction counseling centers, as well as specialized services like Checkit! in Vienna, are generally free of charge, anonymous, and accessible without a referral. This also applies to most gambling addiction counseling services.

Do I have to give my name when seeking help? Anonymity is possible for most initial consultations. Administrative details are only required once formal treatment begins, such as psychotherapy covered through health insurance.

Does health insurance also cover inpatient detox? Yes, both outpatient and inpatient treatment at recognized facilities is covered by the health insurance fund or the social welfare provider. A statutory co-payment may apply, from which certain groups are exempt.

What does "treatment instead of punishment" actually mean? Under Sections 35 and 39 of the Narcotic Substances Act, offenses linked to a person's own substance use can be addressed through a health-related measure — counseling or treatment — instead of criminal prosecution. The goal is treatment rather than criminalization.

Does gambling addiction count as a treatable addiction too? Yes. Gambling addiction is a recognized behavioral addiction and is treated in Austria both by specialized counseling centers and by facilities such as the Anton Proksch Institut.

The first step matters most

Whether it's alcohol, medication, gambling, or other substances, addiction is a treatable illness, and Austria has a dense, largely free support system in place. Often, the most important step is simply making that first call or having that first conversation. If you or a loved one are looking for the right professional for counseling or psychotherapy, use find therapists near you to quickly locate qualified support in your region.