Drogenhilfe Köln

What Drogenhilfe Köln does

Drogenhilfe Köln is a German non-profit organization (gemeinnützige GmbH, or gGmbH) founded in 1972 that provides comprehensive addiction prevention, treatment, and aftercare services across the Köln, Rhein-Erft-Kreis, and Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis regions. The organization operates as an integrated Verbundsystem of 18 facilities spanning the full care continuum: addiction prevention (Suchtvorbeugung), counseling for drugs, gambling, and media-related issues, medication-assisted substitution treatment including diamorphine (heroin-assisted treatment), outpatient and inpatient therapy, emergency overnight accommodation (Notschlafstelle), low-threshold contact services (Café Victoria), supported housing (Betreutes Wohnen, Wohntraining), vocational reintegration (Jugendwerkstatt Hansaring), and MPU counseling for driving-license reinstatement.

The organization is staffed by approximately 185 qualified employees across clinical, counseling, social-work, and administrative functions. Its core technology platform is a conventional website and content management system delivering service information, an online drug-information portal (drogisto.de), a harm-reduction resource for party and festival audiences (partypack.de), and a public cannabis awareness campaign; no proprietary software product, mobile application, or API is offered.

Revenue is generated entirely through public-sector funding from German municipal and federal healthcare programs and charitable donations (Spenden), with all client services provided free of charge, anonymously on request, and with tax-deductible donation status under the organization's charitable recognition. Go-to-market is community-led, relying on facility walk-ins, professional referrals, public health campaigns, professional training (Fortbildungen) for pedagogical staff, digital parent evenings (Elternabende), and outreach through partner networks. Sub-brands include the youth-focused @nsprechbar counseling service and the HaLT and KidKit prevention projects.

Name

Drogenhilfe Köln

Legal name

Drogenhilfe Köln gGmbH

Website

https://drogenhilfe-koeln.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Drogenhilfe Köln is a non-profit (gGmbH) founded in 1972 operating 18 addiction-care facilities across Köln, Rhein-Erft-Kreis, and Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis, delivering free prevention, counseling, substitution, inpatient therapy, housing, and vocational services to individuals and families affected by addiction, funded by public grants and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Addiction Treatment and Social Healthcare Services

NAICS

Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (623220), Residential Mental Health and Substance Abuse Facilities (62322), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Individual and Family Services (6241)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Peer Support, Recovery Coaching & Sober Living Services (HLAFACAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Residential Substance Use Rehabilitation (Inpatient Rehab) (HLAFACAE), Substance Use Detoxification Centers (Medical Detox) (HLAFACAD), Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services (BPAGACAE), Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO)

Keywords

• Addiction treatment services
• Addiction prevention programs
• Substitution therapy clinics
• Supported housing services
• Youth addiction counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Köln

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Funding and Charitable Donations: As a non-profit organization (Gemeinnützigkeit) recognized for charitable work since 1972, Drogenhilfe Köln operates primarily through public funding and charitable donations. Their services are provided free of charge to clients, funded by governmental and community support.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Drogenhilfe Köln delivers a complete continuum of addiction support services through 18 facilities in the Köln region, including prevention, counseling (drugs, gambling, media), outpatient and inpatient therapy, substitution treatment (including diamorphine), psychosocial support, survival aid/emergency shelter, supported housing, and youth-specific counseling. All services are provided free of charge, confidentially, and anonymously on request, serving individuals with addiction, their families, youth at risk, and pedagogical professionals.

Product overview

Drogenhilfe Köln operates as a comprehensive addiction support organization (Verbundsystem) comprising 18 different facilities across Cologne, the Rhein-Erft-Kreis, and Rheinisch-Bergischer Kreis. The organization offers a complete spectrum of modern addiction services: prevention (Suchtvorbeugung), counseling (Suchtberatung) for drugs, gambling, and media issues, substitution treatment including diamorphine programs, outpatient and inpatient therapy (Therapie), survival aid (Überlebenshilfe) through Café Victoria and emergency shelter, housing assistance (Wohnhilfen), and specialized youth services. With approximately 185 qualified staff members since 1972, the organization provides free and confidential counseling services, including anonymous consultations. Key facilities include three Suchthilfezentren (Addiction Support Centers) in Köln-Mitte, Köln-Mülheim, and Köln-Hansaring, the Fachklinik Aggerblick for inpatient treatment, substitution ambulances, and youth-specific services like Jugendsuchtberatung @nsprechbar.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• @nsprechbar: Jugendsuchtberatung (Youth addiction counseling) service brand

Products and services

• Suchtberatung (Addiction Counseling) Free, confidential (and anonymous on request) professional counseling for individuals affected by drug, gambling, or media addiction, delivered at multiple Suchthilfezentrum locations.
• Suchtvorbeugung (Addiction Prevention) Prevention programs and educational services for schools, parents, and communities intended to prevent addiction before it starts.
• Therapie (Outpatient and Inpatient Addiction Treatment) Combined outpatient (Ambulante Entwöhnungsbehandlung) and inpatient (Stationäre Entwöhnungsbehandlung) treatment programs for recovery from substance dependence.
• Substitutionsbehandlung (Substitution Treatment) Medication-assisted treatment program including diamorphine (heroin-assisted) and psychosocial support (PSB) for opioid-dependent individuals at Substitutionsambulanz Neumarkt.
• Überlebenshilfe (Survival Aid) Low-threshold emergency support services including emergency shelter (Notschlafstelle), the Café Victoria contact and health center, outreach programs, and the Aufsuchendes Suchtclearing (ASC) street-level program for vulnerable populations.
• Wohnhilfen (Housing Assistance) Supported living and housing projects for individuals in recovery, including Betreutes Wohnen (assisted living), Wohntraining (residential training) in Nippes and Dellbrück, and Wohnprojekte housing.
• Hilfen für Eltern (Help for Parents) Specialized counseling and support services for parents dealing with their children's addiction or with family addiction problems.
• Kinder aus suchtbelasteten Familien (Children from Addicted Families) Support programs and counseling specifically designed for children growing up in families affected by addiction.
• MPU-Beratung (Driving Fitness Assessment Counseling) Preparation and counseling services for individuals required to undergo the medical-psychological examination (MPU) for driving license reinstatement.
• Suchthilfezentren (Addiction Support Centers) Three outpatient facility locations — Suchthilfezentrum Köln-Mitte, Köln-Mülheim, and Köln-Hansaring — delivering comprehensive addiction counseling and support services.
• Fachstelle für Suchtprävention (Addiction Prevention Center) Specialized prevention center offering training (Fortbildungen) for pedagogical professionals and digital parent evenings (digitale Elternabende) covering media, alcohol, and cannabis.
• Fachstelle Glücksspielsucht (Gambling Addiction Center) Specialized counseling and treatment services for individuals affected by gambling addiction.
• Jugendsuchtberatung @nsprechbar (Youth Addiction Counseling) Youth-specific addiction counseling under the @nsprechbar sub-brand with a dedicated contact point for young people.
• Fachklinik Aggerblick (Inpatient Specialty Clinic) Residential specialty clinic offering inpatient addiction treatment and rehabilitation services.
• Adaption Aggerblick (Post-Treatment Transition Facility) Transitional living facility that supports the transition from inpatient treatment to independent living, operating within the Fachklinik Aggerblick campus in Overath.
• Jugendwerkstatt Hansaring (Vocational Orientation Workshop) Vocational orientation and training workshop for youth, supporting professional integration and reintegration into working life.
• IBS Bergheim und Brühl (Info and Counseling Centers) Two information and counseling centers serving the Rhein-Erft-Kreis area with general addiction counseling intake and referral services.

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Condrobs e.V. Condrobs is a Munich-based non-profit offering addiction counseling, prevention, youth services, housing, and therapy—a near-mirror of Drogenhilfe Köln's Verbundsystem model but serving the Bavarian region. Directly comparable in scope, funding model, and target population.
• Integrative Drogenhilfe Frankfurt e.V. (idh): idh Frankfurt is a non-profit providing comprehensive addiction services including counseling, substitution, housing, and harm reduction in the Frankfurt/Rhine-Main region. Directly comparable community-based addiction services provider with similar funding structure.
• Therapieverbund Sucht Hamburg: A network of addiction treatment facilities in Hamburg providing outpatient and inpatient rehabilitation, counseling, and aftercare. Comparable to Drogenhilfe Köln's Fachklinik Aggerblick and Suchthilfezentren model.
• Notdienst Berlin e.V. Berlin-based addiction services non-profit offering counseling, crisis intervention, substitution, and youth services. Directly comparable regional peer with similar free, anonymous service model.

Broad incumbents

• Caritas Deutschland: Germany's largest Catholic welfare organization operating nationwide social services including addiction counseling, housing, and care for vulnerable populations. Overlaps with Drogenhilfe Köln's services but at much greater scale and broader scope.
• Diakonie Deutschland: Germany's largest Protestant welfare organization providing nationwide social and healthcare services including addiction support. A broad incumbent with overlapping capabilities but significantly wider portfolio than Drogenhilfe Köln.
• MEDIAN Kliniken: Germany's largest private rehabilitation hospital chain operating specialty clinics including inpatient addiction rehab (e.g., AHG, previously Salus). Directly comparable to Fachklinik Aggerblick but as part of a much larger for-profit rehab network.

Others

• Deutsche Hauptstelle für Suchtfragen (DHS): National coordination body for addiction services in Germany representing providers, payers, and policymakers. Not a direct competitor but an industry ecosystem participant shaping the regulatory and funding environment in which Drogenhilfe Köln operates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Drogenhilfe Köln