In Germany, about 28 percent of people over the age of 15 are smokers. That amounts to about 20 million Germans. Between 70 and 80 percent are addicted to nicotine.
Below you will find further information as well as a selection of specialists in the treatment of nicotine addiction.
Symptoms and Diagnosis of Nicotine Addiction
According to the ICD-10, nicotine addiction is diagnosed when at least three of the following criteria are met over the course of a year:
- Compulsive tobacco use
- Development of tolerance, i.e., an increase in the number of cigarettes over time
- Physical withdrawal symptoms upon cessation
- Continued tobacco use despite associated health consequences
- Changes in lifestyle habits to maintain tobacco use
- Limited control over smoking behavior
Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances @ www.freund-foto.de /AdobeStockFagerström Test for assessing the severity of nicotine dependence
Instructions: Please read the following statements carefully and mark the appropriate answer with a check mark. The information should reflect your smoking behavior over the past 3 months.
- When do you smoke your first cigarette after waking up?
- Within 5 minutes (3 points)
- Within 6 to 30 minutes (2 points)
- Within 31 to 60 minutes (1 point)
- After 60 minutes (0 points)
- Do you find it difficult to refrain from smoking in places where smoking is prohibited?
- No (0 points)
- Yes (1 point)
- Which cigarette would you not want to give up?
- the first one in the morning (1 point)
- Other (0 points)
- How many cigarettes do you generally smoke per day?
- Up to 10 (0 points)
- 11 to 20 (1 point)
- 21 to 30 (2 points)
- More than 30 (3 points)
- Do you generally smoke more in the early morning than during the rest of the day?
- No (0 points)
- Yes (1 point)
- Do you ever smoke when you’re sick and have to stay in bed during the day?
- No (0 points)
- Yes (1 point)
The total scores indicate the following levels of nicotine dependence:
- 0–2: low dependence
- 3–5: Moderate dependence
- 6–7: Severe dependence
- 8–10: very severe dependence
Treatment for Nicotine Addiction
You’ll have the best chance of success if you seek professional help from a specialist and combine psychotherapy with medication. Even so, on average, only 1 to 3 out of 10 smokers manage to quit smoking completely.
There are behavioral therapy group and individual therapy programs that typically last 6 to 10 sessions. During these sessions, patients develop coping strategies. Self-help measures are also available. 
Nicotine patches slowly and continuously release nicotine into the body through the skin @ Halfpoint /AdobeStock
Medications to aid in smoking cessation include, for example:
- Nicotine patches
- chewing gum, and
- nasal sprays, as well as
- the medication Zyban®
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