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“GZSZ” actress Marei on addiction: “Get help!”
Olivia Marei plays Toni Ahrens, who is addicted to painkillers. photo
© Anna Riedel/RTL/dpa
Actress Olivia Marei plays police officer Toni Ahrens, who became addicted to painkillers after being treated for a gunshot wound. Why the role is so important.
“Good Times, Bad Times” actress Olivia Marei (33) wants to encourage those affected with her role as Toni Ahrens, who is addicted to painkillers. “I got a lot of positive reactions and I’m proud that we’re making a difference,” said Marei, according to broadcaster RTL.
“As exhausting as it is to play this story, we are also giving those affected and their relatives a platform – look, you are not alone. Don’t be ashamed, get help! It will be difficult, but you can do it!”
Enlightenment through series
The actress visited the Brandenburg State Office for Addiction Issues in Potsdam today with Federal Drug Commissioner Burkhard Blienert. In his opinion, the topic of drug addiction in series is an effective means of education.
“Informing, supporting and also protecting against drug use and addictions – that is an essential approach of my addiction and drug policy,” said Blienert. “I think that’s exactly what “GZSZ” has achieved, even with a topic like drug addiction, which is more of a silent addiction and is rarely in the public eye.”
According to estimates by the Federal Ministry of Health, 2.9 million people in Germany have problematic drug use. Older people and women are more likely to be affected than men.
Marei plays police officer Toni Ahrens on “GZSZ”, who became addicted to painkillers after a stay in the USA after being treated for a gunshot wound. Since then, she has experienced sweats, anxiety, embarrassment and torment.