Institut für interdisziplinäre Sucht- und Drogenforschung

What Institut für interdisziplinäre Sucht- und Drogenforschung does

Institut für interdisziplinäre Sucht- und Drogenforschung (ISD) is a Hamburg-based non-profit research institute founded in 1992, operating under the auspices of the supporting association FISD e.V. It functions as an intermediary between academic addiction research and applied prevention practice in Germany. ISD conducts commissioned studies, program evaluations, and longitudinal monitoring across substance use, pathological gambling, and behavioral addictions for German federal ministries and state-level public-health agencies.

ISD's core product portfolio includes Bado NRW, a web-based documentation system deployed across approximately 175 outpatient addiction treatment facilities in North Rhine-Westphalia and integrated with federal KDS 3.0 / KDS-Online data standards, plus recurring state-level monitoring reports for NRW, Schleswig-Holstein, Hessen, Berlin, and Hamburg. The institute produces the recurring Glücksspiel-Survey, school-based prevention programs (including the Gläserne Schule curriculum and gambling prevention modules), the Eltern stärken parental training program, and the Akademie Sucht professional training and conference series. Recent additions include the CaRM cannabis-prevention research platform (launched July 2024), its CaRM-Dis dissemination follow-on (January 2026), and the Glücksspiel-Survey 2025 (published March 2026). The institute is academically affiliated with the Centre for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research (ZIS) at the University of Hamburg.

The business model rests on three revenue streams: (1) commissioned research and program-evaluation contracts from German federal and state authorities (BMG, BIÖG, BZgA, Landesstelle Sucht NRW, HLS, LSSH, and analogous bodies), (2) Akademie Sucht training and conference fees, and (3) FISD membership contributions. ISD does not commercialize intellectual property outside German public-sector contracts, pursues no equity funding, and operates without disclosed revenue figures. Its go-to-market is public-procurement-driven, and its competitive position is anchored by multi-decade institutional relationships with federal and state addiction-policy stakeholders.

Name

Institut für interdisziplinäre Sucht- und Drogenforschung

Legal name

Förderverein interdisziplinärer Sucht- und Drogenforschung (FISD) e.V.

Website

https://isd-hamburg.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Institut für interdisziplinäre Sucht- und Drogenforschung (ISD) is a Hamburg-based non-profit research institute, founded 1992, conducting commissioned studies, evaluations, and monitoring in addiction prevention for German federal and state government agencies on substance use and gambling.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Addiction Research and Prevention Services

NAICS

Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910), Outpatient Mental Health and Substance Abuse Centers (621420)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services (BPAGACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Behavioral Risk & Health Survey Surveillance (HLAJANAD), Behavioral Health & Substance Use Program Funding (Public Health) (HLAJALAI), Substance Use Prevention & Recovery Lifestyle Education (Non-clinical) (EDAAAHAL)

Keywords

• Addiction research services
• Substance abuse prevention
• Public health evaluation
• Epidemiological survey research
• Gambling behavior studies

Headquarters

HQ city

Hamburg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Commissioned Research and Evaluation Projects: The institute's primary revenue source is project-based funding from public institutions. Government agencies (federal and state ministries), public health organizations, and foundations commission ISD to conduct evaluations, surveys, epidemiological studies, and monitoring projects. Projects have defined durations and funding amounts determined per contract.
2. Academy Sucht - Continuing Education and Conference Revenue: The Akademie Sucht, a training institution affiliated with FISD e.V., conducts conferences, congresses, seminars, and workshops. These events generate revenue through registration fees and contribute to the institute's ecosystem positioning.
3. Institutional / Membership Support (FISD e.V.): The parent organization Förderverein für interdisziplinäre Sucht- und Drogenforschung (FISD e.V.) provides institutional support and manages membership contributions, supporting the non-profit mission of the institute.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

ISD Hamburg conducts commissioned evaluations, epidemiological surveys, and research projects across the full spectrum of addiction prevention and help, covering substance-related addictions (alcohol, nicotine, medications, illegal drugs, cannabis) and non-substance addictions (pathological gambling). Its deliverables include state-level monitoring reports, the Bado NRW data collection system for outpatient addiction facilities, scientifically evaluated prevention programs (school-based, parental), and recurring population surveys such as the Glücksspiel-Survey. Services are delivered directly to commissioning federal ministries, state governments, and public health bodies.

Product overview

The Institut für interdisziplinäre Sucht- und Drogenforschung (ISD Hamburg) is a non-profit research institute established in 1992, operating as a link between research and practice in addiction prevention and assistance. The organization offers a portfolio of data collection systems (Bado NRW), monitoring publications, training services through Akademie Sucht, and various evidence-based prevention programs including the 'Gläserne Schule' school program, gambling addiction prevention programs, and parental intervention programs. The core research activities span substance addictions (alcohol, nicotine, medications, illegal drugs, cannabis) and non-substance addictions (pathological gambling), with major recurring surveys including the biennial Glücksspiel-Survey. The Bado NRW data collection system provides technical interface specifications for standardized data exchange across addiction help facilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Akademie Sucht: A continuing education institution under FISD that conducts conferences, congresses, seminars, and workshops for scientific further education in the field of addiction and transfer of research findings into practice.

Products and services

• Bado NRW (Basisdokumentation NRW)

Quantifiable outcome

• The CaRM project (2024-2025) conducted population surveys and analyzed cannabis knowledge myths among the general public and consumption groups to inform federal prevention campaigns.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Förderverein für interdisziplinäre Sucht- und Drogenforschung (FISD e.V.)coreOthers · 1 January 1992FISD e.V. is the parent non-profit organization (Träger) that founded and operates ISD Hamburg. It was established by scientists from various faculties of Hamburg universities and practitioners. FISD e.V. also houses the Akademie Sucht as a training institution. Address: Lokstedter Weg 24, 20251 Hamburg. Registered in Hamburg (VR 13091).
• Zentrum für Interdisziplinäre Suchtforschung (ZIS) der Universität HamburgcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerISD is associated with ZIS at the University of Hamburg through close ongoing cooperation. Many ISD staff members are listed as researchers on the ZIS website, indicating shared personnel and research collaboration between the two institutions.
• Koordinationsstelle Schulische Suchtvorbeugung (KOSS, Kiel)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperation partner in school-based addiction prevention research projects, including the evaluation of the 'Initiierte Abstinenz' program component and school smoking prohibition studies.
• Landesstelle gegen die Suchtgefahren e.V. Schleswig-Holstein (LSSH, Kiel)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState-level addiction help coordination body in Schleswig-Holstein, co-partner in multiple school-based prevention evaluation projects.
• SuchtPräventionsZentrum (SPZ, Hamburg)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHamburg-based addiction prevention center, co-partner in school-based prevention program evaluations and implementation.
• Institut für Therapie- und Gesundheitsforschung (IFT-Nord, Kiel)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner in the project on developing evidence-based parental recommendations for alcohol consumption, funded by BZgA.
• Deutsches Zentrum für Suchtfragen des Kindes- und Jugendalters (DZSKJ, Hamburg)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGerman center for addiction issues in childhood and adolescence based in Hamburg, research partner in parental alcohol consumption recommendations project.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• SuchtPräventionsZentrum (SPZ) Hamburg: Hamburg-based prevention center and ISD cooperation partner in school-based prevention program evaluation. Implements the evidence-based programs ISD scientifically evaluates, making it a downstream counterpart rather than a direct research competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung (BZgA): Federal Center for Health Education funds and disseminates prevention programs in Germany, often commissioning ISD and its peers. Functions both as a funder and a content producer in addiction prevention, representing the broader institutional environment ISD operates within.
• Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH): Canada's largest mental health and addiction teaching hospital and research center, combining clinical care with epidemiology and prevention research. A useful international benchmark for ISD's integrated research/practice model, though operating at substantially greater scale.
• Robert Koch-Institut (RKI): Germany's federal public health institute conducting epidemiological surveillance and health monitoring. Comparable to ISD's monitoring function (Bado NRW, Glücksspielsurvey) but at a national scale across all disease areas, and a frequent partner/funder in public-health research.

Direct peers

• IFT-Nord (Institut für Therapie- und Gesundheitsforschung): Kiel-based addiction and health research institute that has collaborated with ISD on BZgA-funded parental alcohol projects. Overlaps with ISD in prevention program evaluation, school-based interventions, and commissioned research for federal health authorities.
• Zentrum für Interdisziplinäre Suchtforschung (ZIS) der Universität Hamburg: University-based addiction research center formally affiliated with ISD since 1992, with shared personnel and joint research programs. Highly comparable in thematic focus (addiction epidemiology, prevention) though structured as a university institute rather than a non-profit.
• IFT Institut für Therapieforschung München: Germany's largest non-profit addiction research institute, delivering epidemiological studies, prevention program evaluations, and treatment research for federal/state agencies. Directly comparable to ISD in mission, funding model, and product portfolio (e.g., school prevention, cannabis research).
• Deutsches Zentrum für Suchtfragen des Kindes- und Jugendalters (DZSKJ): Hamburg-based German center for childhood and adolescent addiction issues that has collaborated with ISD on BZgA-funded parental alcohol recommendations. Operates as a research and coordination hub in the same addiction-prevention ecosystem.
• Deutsches Institut für Sucht- und Präventionsforschung (DISuP) der Katholischen Hochschule Köln: Academic addiction and prevention research institute in North Rhine-Westphalia conducting epidemiological and prevention studies. Comparable to ISD in evidence-based prevention research and federal/state commissioning, particularly relevant for NRW tenders.

Others

• Deloitte Public Sector Health Practice: Large professional services firm that increasingly delivers behavioral health and addiction policy evaluations for governments. Represents the adjacent consulting/evaluation market that competes for the same public-sector research budgets ISD relies on.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/institut-f%C3%BCr-interdisziplin%C3%A4re-sucht-und-drogenforschung

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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