The number of people ending up in hospital in Germany due to illegal drug use dropped once again in 2022, according to new government figures released on Tuesday.
Figures have been declining in Germany since peaking in 2016.
Around 17,200 cases were counted in the country in 2022 for treatment over use of heroin, cocaine, LSD or other illegal drugs, according to Germany's Federal Statistical Office.
That's a drop of 17% compared to 2016, when there were almost 20,800 hospitalizations.
Although the numbers have been falling steadily since then, the number of hospitalizations remains much higher than several decades ago. In 2002, just 9,500 people were treated in hospital for drug abuse, 81% lower than in 2022.
Two thirds of patients (66%) in 2022 were male, around a third (34%) were female. According to the data, more than half of those treated (55%) were between 18 and 39 years old, while 8% were not yet adults.
Hospital treatments as a result of cannabis, tobacco or alcohol consumption are not included in the statistics. Tobacco and alcohol have long been legal in Germany, while cannabis was made legal in the country earlier this year.
