ENAlcoholism treatment in Germany follows the same logic as treatment for other addictions: first a safe withdrawal under medical supervision, then long-term work that protects against relapse. This page is for a person who realises they cannot manage alcohol alone, and for a family looking for help.
It covers signs and assessment, detox, treatment afterwards, doctors and hospitals, the cost estimate and arrangements. For an overview of all addictions, see addiction help in Germany.
Signs of alcohol dependence and medical assessment
Alcohol dependence is recognised by a combination of signs: loss of control over how much is drunk, craving, growing tolerance, shaking and sweating on stopping, and continuing to drink despite obvious harm. For a first assessment doctors use the AUDIT questionnaire: ten questions developed by the WHO to judge how risky someone’s drinking is. The wider health risks are summarised in the WHO fact sheet on alcohol.
The body is checked as well. The liver is assessed with blood tests and ultrasound and, where needed, with elastography, which measures liver stiffness without a needle. Doctors also look at the pancreas, the heart and the nerves: years of heavy drinking can lead to numb feet and poor balance. The heart is covered in the article on alcohol and heart rhythm disorders.
Depression, anxiety and sleep problems often come with alcohol. They are assessed straight away, together with the dependence: otherwise the risk of relapse is higher.
Detox: why alcohol withdrawal is done under supervision
Alcohol withdrawal is done under supervision because it can be dangerous. Typical symptoms are tremor, sweating and spikes in blood pressure; some patients develop seizures or delirium tremens, a state of confusion and hallucinations that is life-threatening. That is why stopping abruptly after long heavy drinking without a doctor is dangerous.
In hospital the patient is monitored around the clock and receives medication to ease withdrawal, along with vitamin B1 (thiamine) to protect the brain.
A form specific to Germany is qualified detox (qualifizierter Entzug): during these weeks a psychotherapist is involved, with talks about motivation and the next steps. Detox takes roughly one to three weeks. The German S3 guideline on screening, diagnosis and treatment of alcohol-related disorders recommends offering this qualified form rather than physical detox alone.
After detox: psychotherapy and medication against craving
The main stage after detox is rehabilitation (Entwöhnung): individual and group therapy, work with the family and a plan for risky situations. How a psychotherapist in Germany works is explained on a separate page.
Medicines that reduce craving, for example acamprosate or naltrexone, are prescribed by the doctor and only together with psychotherapy, as part of an overall treatment plan. “Coding” and implants are not part of German evidence-based practice.
The goal of treatment is to stop drinking completely. If that is not achievable now, German guidelines allow reduced drinking as an interim step to limit harm, decided together with the doctor. A relapse is a reason to adjust treatment, not a failure.
Doctors and hospitals treating alcohol dependence
Alcohol dependence is treated in psychiatric hospitals and specialised hospital departments; two doctors are described here. Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Hillemacher is director of the department of psychiatry and psychotherapy at Klinikum Nürnberg and holds additional qualifications in geriatrics and addiction medicine. He received the Nordmann Award of the European Society for Biomedical Research on Alcoholism (ESBRA) in 2010 and since 2025 has been co-president of DG-Sucht, the German Society for Addiction Research and Therapy.
Dr. med. Nina Kim Bekier is head of the department of addiction disorders and consultation psychiatry at Bürgerhospital Frankfurt am Main. Help with accompanying depression or anxiety is covered under psychiatry in Germany.
What the estimate includes
The estimate lists detox, the assessment and treatment of other illnesses and the rehabilitation course as separate items. The hospital draws it up (Kostenvoranschlag) after reviewing the documents; accommodation for a companion and an interpreter are listed separately. More detail is on the cost of addiction treatment page.
Foreign patients pay directly against the hospital’s invoice. German insurance covers treatment only for people insured in Germany.
Frequently asked questions
How long does alcoholism treatment in Germany take?
Detox takes roughly one to three weeks, rehabilitation takes months. The exact length depends on how severe the withdrawal is, on other illnesses and on whether rehabilitation is inpatient or a day programme. Outpatient follow-up comes afterwards and is planned before discharge. That is why travel dates and the visa are discussed once the hospital doctor has reviewed the documents.
How is qualified detox different from ordinary detox?
Ordinary detox only treats withdrawal, while qualified detox also treats the dependence itself. Besides care for withdrawal symptoms, it includes talks with a psychotherapist, work on motivation, assessment and treatment of other illnesses, and preparation for rehabilitation. It therefore lasts longer, and German guidelines recommend offering it rather than a mere “clean-out”.
Should I stop drinking before travelling for alcoholism treatment?
Not abruptly and not on your own: withdrawal without supervision can bring seizures or delirium. How to prepare is agreed with the doctor, who needs an honest account of how much you drink, how earlier withdrawals went and which medicines you take. The detox itself then takes place in hospital under round-the-clock monitoring.
Can I drink occasionally after alcoholism treatment?
As a rule, no: with dependence, the goal of treatment is to stop drinking completely. German guidelines allow reduced drinking only when stopping is not achievable for now, as an interim step to limit harm and decided together with the doctor. If a relapse happens, go back to the doctor: it is a reason to adjust treatment, not a sign that it has failed.
How AlenMed arranges alcoholism treatment in Germany
AlenMed arranges alcoholism treatment in Germany only with the patient’s own consent. A safe detox depends on an honest description: how much and for how long the person drinks, whether past withdrawals brought seizures or delirium, and which medicines they take. Do not stop drinking abruptly on your own before the trip: discuss it with the doctor.
We translate documents, choose the hospital, arrange the visa invitation letter, meet the patient on arrival and provide an interpreter. Medical confidentiality is protected by law. AlenMed’s office is in Munich.
After discharge the patient receives a medical report in their own language and a plan for support at home.
This material is for information only and is not an offer. Treatment is decided by the doctor at an in-person appointment.