Which providers offer addiction counselling?

In Germany, addiction counselling is offered by a range of providers. These include municipal services, meaning cities and districts, and independent providers such as Caritas, Diakonie or associations. The provider is the organisation that runs a counselling service and is responsible for its work. According to the Federal Drug Commissioner, the facility database of the German Centre for Addiction Issues (DHS) lists over 1,400 outpatient addiction counselling services nationwide. You can find out which provider stands behind a service on its website or by phone.

Municipal providers

Municipal addiction counselling services belong to the city or district. Their range of services differs from place to place. The Federal Drug Commissioner points out that some counselling services specialise in particular substances or forms of addiction. It is therefore best to check in advance whether a service advises on cannabis, for example with a short call.

Independent providers and welfare associations

Independent providers are self-contained organisations that offer counselling. They include welfare associations such as Caritas and Diakonie, but also associations and specialist bodies. A provider's self-image is usually set out in its mission statement on its website. If this matters to you, read it before your first appointment. If you have open questions, for example about requirements or catchment area, a call to the service will help.

• Municipal providers: services of the city or district
• Welfare associations such as Caritas and Diakonie: independent providers with their own counselling services
• Specialist bodies and associations: some with specialised programmes, which you can ask the service about

Why the provider matters to you

The provider runs the service and bears responsibility for its work. That is why it is the right contact if you need to clarify something or wish to complain. The provider should be named on the service's website, usually in the legal notice. If this information is missing, ask. The article How do I recognise a reputable counselling service? explains more.

Funding and services of the providers

In 2026, the DHS surveyed the funding of counselling services for the second time. In 76.9 percent of the responses, funding is not cost-covering or not yet finally settled, and only 12.7 percent assume secure funding. The DHS also reports shortened opening and consultation hours and the closure of individual services.

For you, this means that a service's consultation hours and offers can change. Check them on the provider's website before you call. Whether the counselling costs anything, you will learn from the service. The article Does addiction counselling for cannabis cost anything? answers this question in more detail.

Associations and directories as orientation

The DHS runs an addiction help directory on its website. There you search by postcode or town and choose a radius of 2 to 100 kilometres. The DHS website also lists the state offices for addiction issues. The directory is especially helpful if you live in a rural region and want to know which services are within reach. The article Is there addiction counselling in rural areas? shows what provision looks like in the countryside.

Digital offers and self-help

Besides local services, there is digital counselling. According to the Federal Drug Commissioner, DigiSucht offers free and anonymous addiction counselling for affected adults, relatives and parents. Self-help groups rely on mutual support between people with similar experiences. The Federal Drug Commissioner names around 8,700 self-help groups for people at risk of addiction and people with addiction and their relatives, and refers to the National Contact and Information Centre for Self-Help (NAKOS) for addresses.

How to find the right provider

First consider what you need. Is it individual counselling, a group or counselling as a relative? Then search the addiction help directory for your town and read the services' websites to see which offers they list. If needed, ask your GP practice whether it knows services nearby. An overview of the search is given in the article Where can I find an addiction counselling service for cannabis?

Questions you can ask the provider

• Who runs the counselling service?
• Does the service advise on cannabis, and for which target groups?
• How does the service handle confidentiality and data?
• Will I have to pay anything?
• Are there other sites, or telephone or digital offers?

A reputable service answers these questions clearly or tells you who can answer them.

What you can do now

Pick out two or three services near you, for example via the DHS addiction help directory. Check the providers' websites to see which offers exist. Then call and ask about the process, costs and confidentiality. This way you can find a service that suits you with little effort.