Kreuzberg in danger: Fentanyl is spreading – the new drug threat!

Kreuzberg in danger: Fentanyl is spreading – the new drug threat!

In Kreuzberg, one of Berlin's trendiest districts, the drug crisis is simmering like never before! The notorious hotspots Görlitzer Park and Kottbusser Tor are in the headlines again, and for a frightening reason: A new, dangerous drug is spreading and is causing alarm among street workers and residents!

Juri Schaffranek, a dedicated street worker from Gangway, warns urgently about the impending danger. At a citizens' meeting at Kiezanker 36, he reported that after the flood of crack, the deadly fentanyl has now arrived in Berlin. This highly potent opioid has claimed tens of thousands of lives in the United States and is believed to be the leading cause of the alarmingly high number of overdoses among young adults.

Fentanyl: A new chapter in the drug scene

The numbers speak for themselves: between 70,000 and 80,000 people died of opioid overdoses in the USA in 2021 - a sad record! Fentanyl, which is up to 100 times stronger than morphine, is primarily prescribed for severe pain, but in the Kreuzberg scene it is used in dangerous ways. It is often extracted from used pain patches and then injected intravenously or even smoked. Schaffranek notes that the number of consumers in Berlin is constantly growing, which makes the situation even more worrying.

Kreuzberg's drug culture is facing a new, grim challenge, and the city must act urgently to avert the impending catastrophe. The shadow of the drug crisis is spreading and residents are concerned about uncontrollable conditions on the streets.