Residents of an alcohol dispensary in Hamburg, Germany, are allowed to drink alcohol in unlimited quantities, provided that they are under the supervision of medical personnel. Der Spiegel magazine reported on a special “approach” to treating the disease at one of the care centers in Germany.
“Every day at six o’clock in the evening, patients at a rehabilitation centre on the outskirts of Hamburg go to the treatment room for unusual medication. Some guests are given two bottles of beer, others half a litre of white wine and one elderly man a healthy dose of schnapps. This concept of the centre is particularly shocking when it turns out that all the people living in the centre suffer from a serious alcohol addiction. Instead of undergoing traditional therapy, people here can do whatever they want – but under the supervision of medical staff,” the publication says.
Alcohol consumption at the centre is permitted in the morning, afternoon and evening, although particularly thirsty patients may request an additional dose in the evening. To meet the needs of 137 residents permanently residing at the rehabilitation centre, the administration organises several large deliveries daily, including various alcoholic beverages. It should be noted that the patients in this special centre suffer from a severe form of addiction and their stay in this shelter was preceded by dozens of failed rehabilitation programmes.
Most of the guests are retired or even elderly people. The youngest addicted person who came to the centre was 28 years old. One of the nurses told the publication about his fate.
“He died drinking” – she said.
According to her, this case is not unique: residents live in the centre for no more than six years, after which they die from health problems resulting from excessive consumption.
“They die by drinking, under the control and supervision of specialists, and also kept in humane conditions,” one of the sponsors of this initiative tried to explain the concept of the institution. Michael Günther. “Ordinary people often do not understand the essence of our experiment; I myself feel this among my friends.”
However, as experts following the project point out, the measures used in the clinic can “significantly improve the quality and life expectancy” of people suffering from addiction. According to the narcologist Michael KleinThe shelter makes it possible for terminally ill alcoholics to “not sleep on the streets” and not experience “physical suffering.”
“People here are forced to drink, they have no other choice.” – said the nurse Oliver Rausch.
It is noted that getting into the shelter is very difficult due to the long list of people waiting for the right to be accommodated there. According to the German Ministry of Health, the number of people in the country who are dependent on alcohol exceeds 1.6 million people.
