"Alcohol is a hot potato"
Christiane Fux studied journalism and psychology in Hamburg. The experienced medical editor has been writing magazine articles, news and factual texts on all conceivable health topics since 2001. In addition to her work for, Christiane Fux is also active in prose. Her first crime novel was published in 2012, and she also writes, designs and publishes her own crime plays.
More posts by Christiane Fux All content is checked by medical journalists.In Germany, someone dies every seven minutes in connection with alcohol. Social pedagogue Andreas Tremer *, advisor at the “Blue Cross” in Munich, talks about an underrated drug.
Andreas Tremer
Andreas Tremer is a social worker in the addiction advice center of the “Blue Cross” in Munich.
Mr. Tremerabout 3.4 percent of Germans are alcohol-dependent. Another 3.1 percent are said to engage in abuse. When does alcohol consumption become critical?
There are clear criteria for real addiction. This includes, for example, if someone loses control over their consumption, cannot do without it, or is increasingly tolerant of alcohol. The difference between unproblematic drinking and abuse, on the other hand, is not as clear-cut as one would like. It is more difficult to pinpoint when an abuse starts. This is a gray area that also confronts us as specialists with difficulties.
Do you have an example?
Abuse is already when someone goes to a party and drinks several glasses to be less shy and loosen up.
So it's less a question of the amount than the reasons I drink.
The amount consumed can also play a role - if someone deliberately gets drunk, that is already abuse. But the main thing is why I drink the alcohol. Alcohol should be a luxury item. When I use it to achieve a specific purpose, abusive consumption begins.
There seems to have been a positive trend in recent years: per capita consumption of pure alcohol has decreased in recent years. Is there any sign of social change?
It is difficult to read social change from numbers. I tend to believe that it is certain preventive measures that are now taking effect. That the support network is getting better and better, for example. That problems with alcohol are addressed earlier.That the inhibition threshold to talk about it decreases at work, in the family, among friends. However, the consumer culture has remained the same.
Is it true that it has become more normal not to drink alcohol? Those who use orange juice instead of a champagne glass today earn less stupid sayings than they did years ago.
This may be. Nevertheless, alcohol is still deeply anchored in our culture, for example drinking on certain occasions. There are certain situations in which a little more alcohol is legitimate.
Example stag party ...
But also very everyday situations. For example, the beer you drink with roast pork.
Tell me as a Munich resident.
It's no different in Baden. Except that there is the glass of wine.
Subject of enlightenment. An incredible amount has happened in the last few years when it comes to smoking. Apparently much more than when it comes to alcohol. Is the impression correct?
Much less is being done with alcohol. Alcohol is just very deeply rooted in Europe. There are strong lobbies. And: significantly more people drink to a normal extent than people smoke. Therefore, it is a hot topic to educate in this direction. The people, whose alcohol consumption stays within limits, feel trampled on. They think they are lumped together with alcoholics. On the other hand, it is difficult to reach those who are really concerned.
Being an alcoholic is still more stigmatized than being a smoker.
That's correct. There is still a lot to do here, too. There are alcoholics in all walks of life - not just the homeless on the park bench.
What do you think should happen?
In the long run, it's important to really make people understand that alcohol can be addictive and sick. I teach a course for young people who have committed alcohol offenses. 40 to 50 percent of the participants actually ask me whether alcohol can be addictive at all.
Hard to believe! Where does this ignorance come from?
In my opinion, this has to do with the irrational belief that alcohol is essentially not a drug. What is so normal cannot be dangerous.
Thank you for talking to us, Mr. Tremer.
The interview was conducted by Christiane Fux.
