Rising Number of Youth Seek Help for Nicotine and Media Addiction

In the past year, children and adolescents have reached out to the psychosocial emergency service, Rat auf Draht, a total of 857 times regarding issues related to addiction. This marks a slight increase of approximately 0.7% compared to the previous year. On average, the organization receives two inquiries daily from young individuals facing such concerns, as reported on Thursday. There is a noticeable increase in requests related to nicotine and media addiction, while inquiries regarding alcohol have decreased.

Experts have observed a significant rise in inquiries about nicotine use, particularly between 2019 and 2023, where requests surged by 86%. From 2023 to 2024, there was a further increase of 24%. This trend is largely attributed to the rising popularity of tobacco-free nicotine pouches, which, while legal for individuals aged 18 and older in Austria, are still being used by many young people. The head of the counseling team emphasized the importance of raising awareness among youth that these nicotine pouches are not as harmless as they may seem. The organization is committed to providing swift assistance to those who may experience overdoses from these products, offering support and guidance on the next steps.

Another area of growing concern is the excessive use of digital media, which has seen a staggering increase of 71% in counseling requests. Young individuals frequently question whether their time spent on social networks and online gaming qualifies as addiction. The head of counseling explained that during adolescence, occasional misuse of digital media is somewhat common, as it often serves as a coping mechanism for stress from school or other pressures. However, addiction is characterized by a preoccupation with the addictive behavior or substance, which starts to dominate one's daily life.

Conversely, inquiries about alcohol consumption among youth have decreased, with a reported decline of 7.6% compared to 2023. This suggests a shifting attitude among teenagers, indicating that binge drinking may be on the decline. Observations suggest that young people are increasingly opting to forgo alcohol or are adopting a more mindful approach to its consumption compared to previous years. The majority of the inquiries, totaling 354, were related to drugs and medications, which have also seen a slight decrease of 4% from the previous year.

As part of its services, Rat auf Draht, an initiative supported by SOS Children's Village, provides a confidential and free emergency hotline for children and adolescents. The service is accessible 24/7 via phone or chat, funded primarily through donations.