“The current figures and data from the monitoring indicate a stable situation of the dependency problem. There are no new developments compared to previous years “, reports addiction officer Monika Parhammer and adds:” However, the number of clients receiving advice and treatment in the support system was lower. Because of this, and because of the general increase in corona-related stress, there could be catch-up effects and a need for advice and treatment. “

Offers throughout the state

In the years 2016 to 2019, an average of around 2,450 people with mental illness or addiction problems were cared for; in 2020 the figure was 2,193. A little more than 800 people sought advice from the country’s psychosocial service in the corona year because of alcohol problems. The majority are men between the ages of 50 and 59.

Due to the contact restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the number of people seeking help for alcohol counseling is eleven percent compared to 2019, and for drug counseling by five, says the state’s new addiction coordinator Monika Parhammer. A decline has also been recorded for those people who are dying to get support for the first time.

It is therefore all the more important for Deputy Governor Heinrich Schellhorn from the Greens not to lose people and their relatives from the support network: “We have to keep those affected with more services in our broad-based support system. We have a close-knit network in Salzburg that can react to current problems. “

Illicit drugs are widely used

In the meantime, the first studies have been carried out in which the effects of the corona measures on mental health and on the consumption of illegal drugs such as cannabis were recorded. About 40% of the users state that they consume frequently, but the opposite effect of a reduction or a stop in consumption as well as the shift in consumption to other substances such as increased alcohol consumption have also been reported.

Consultations in pandemic more complex

In some cases, the advice shows that cases of care have become more complex and time-consuming due to the dying pandemic. “By shifting alcohol consumption from public to private space, addictive behavior has often also become more visible to relatives. It is important that relatives of relatives can also take advantage of advice from the psychosocial service. Motivating addicts for treatment is often a long way, ”explains addiction officer Monika Parhammer.