/ image alliance, dpa, Uli Deck
Munich – Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter has addressed Prime Minister Markus Söder (CSU) with a renewed call for the creation of drug consumption rooms in Bavaria.
“The city of Munich is increasingly facing the challenges of illegal drug use and its negative side effects,” the SPD politician wrote in a letter to Söder.
“High-risk use of opiates and other narcotics often occurs in public and semi-public places where bystanders, including children and young people, are also affected and at risk of discovering syringes or contamination,” says Reiter.
The city is constantly faced with demands from residents and businesses to end drug use in hallways, courtyards, underground parking lots and on the streets. “Citizens express understanding for the plight of drug addicts and at the same time are increasingly confused about why drug consumption rooms are not being set up.”
Last but not least, the area around the main railway station, as the “gateway to the city”, is affected. But it is also about the health of drug users, who can only be contacted for help in facilities where consumption is possible, observable and more discussed, Reiter wrote to Söder.
“We are seeing a growing proportion of high-risk users who are difficult to reach with conventional support services and who have complex health problems.”
More HIV infections among drug users
O German Aids Aid has before the beginning of World AIDS Conference next week caused a sensation with the announcement of the opening of a drug consumption room in Munich on Friday – the symbolic action is intended as a political appeal to change the legal situation in Bavaria, as the initiators made clear.
The newest Pay from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) on new HIV infections in 2023 show an increase due to injecting drugs with needles. The estimated numbers have been rising slowly but steadily since 2010. This increase is worrying and urgently requires prevention responses, says Aidshilfe. It is important to provide these people with sufficient sterile syringes and other supplies.
State government continues to reject drug consumption rooms
So far, the state government has strictly rejected drug consumption rooms – although several cities would like to introduce such an offer.
“There are good reasons for the negative attitude towards drug consumption rooms. The main argument is the contradiction that possession and acquisition of certain drugs should be prosecuted, but their consumption in such facilities would be tolerated by the state. Tolerating such legal loopholes endangers legal certainty and legal equality,” a Health Ministry spokesman said in response to Reiter’s appeal.
It is clear that people suffering from addiction urgently need help. The Ministry of Health relies, among other things, on low-threshold substitution offers or safer use measures such as needle exchange programmes. Street work is also supported. This year, the Free State is investing a total of around €8.5 million in addiction prevention and support.
Broad Alliance for Safe Drug Consumption Spaces
Reiter, however, emphasized that for years a broad alliance between the Free Social Welfare, the district council, the cities and the citizens of Bavaria has been committed to creating spaces for protected drug consumption in Bavaria as well.
In 2018, at the request of the CSU parliamentary group, the Munich City Council passed a resolution for a medical outpatient clinic with consumption options and reiterated this request in December 2020. Two weeks ago, all factions of the city council confirmed the demand for such a facility.
Examples from other federal states show that the questions and concerns of the interior and justice departments can be addressed, Reiter wrote. In many large cities, the facilities are now a natural part of the support offered to drug users, but also of municipal security concepts.
“In view of the significantly increasing pressure to act, I urge you to create the legal requirements for the operation of drug consumption rooms in Bavaria,” Reiter appealed to Söder. © dpa/aerzteblatt.de