Overview

• The DHS Suchtbericht 2025 confirms 99,000 annual deaths from smoking and 47,500 from alcohol-related causes in Germany.
• Approximately eight million Germans are addicted, with over 20% engaging in risky alcohol consumption and 30% smoking.
• Alcohol in Germany is the cheapest in Europe due to stagnant taxes, with experts advocating for a 5% price increase to reduce consumption and save 850 lives annually.
• Alcohol and tobacco impose a combined economic burden of over 150 billion euros annually, prompting calls for increased prevention and treatment funding.
• The report flags the growing presence of crack cocaine and synthetic opioids like fentanyl in German drug scenes, urging the government to prioritize addiction policy reforms.