Frankfurt drug policy: Cities refuse help for consumption rooms

Frankfurt drug policy: Cities refuse help for consumption rooms

An outcry of drug policy sounds from Frankfurt! The city faces a shattering problem: an alarming part of the drug addicts who use the consumption rooms in the Bahnhofsviertel does not even come from Frankfurt! Mayor Mike Josef (SPD) and Health Director Elke Voitl (Greens) have urged that surrounding cities should provide financial support or create their own offers. But the answer to this urgent appeal is devastating: a clear 'no' from the region and beyond!

A comprehensive survey by the Frankfurter Rundschau illuminates the desolate scenario. Offenbach, Darmstadt, Aschaffenburg, Munich and Mainz reject any kind of financial participation in the Frankfurt drug help. In Offenbach, reference is only made to an already existing aid system, while the call for suitable consumption rooms in the cities nationwide is falling nationwide. From Darmstadt there were also cautious signals that considerations for their own consumer space are initiated. But Mayor Barbara Akdeniz (Greens) emphasizes that this is associated with high financial and legal hurdles.

The answer of the neighboring cities: rejection of Frankfurt's application

Aschaffenburg knows nothing: "We have not yet been officially supported financial support for Frankfurt," said the mayor's office. And the situation in Munich is not better. Population numbers show that Munich drug addicts travel to the station district regularly, but the Bavarian capital has so far not plans its own consumer rooms and also refuses to support Frankfurt. Mainz also remains closed and emphasizes that the number of addicts in Frankfurt is “very small”, which completely excludes support for the Frankfurt efforts.

The data are alarming: 2821 people used the Frankfurt drug use last year, with amazing 56 percent of these users not coming from Frankfurt. This throws a bright light on the challenges of the city and makes the dramatic situation in the station district even more drasty.