Drug crisis in Germany: Streeck calls for joint action today!

Drug crisis in Germany: Streeck calls for joint action today!

In Germany, the topic of drugs and addiction is becoming increasingly public. The newly appointed Federal Drug Commissioner Hendrik Streeck emphasizes that the discussion about addiction is not a marginal matter. During a recent speech, he emphasized that almost ten million people in Germany suffer from addiction. In addition, many other people around them are affected, including children, parents and friends. June 26th, World Drug Day, brings this issue into particular focus, as this day is intended to raise awareness of the dangers of drug use. The topic urgently requires a discussion across society as a whole, as antennemuenster.de reports.

Streeck calls for the problem to be viewed from the perspective of health, not as a question of custom or law. He sees prevention as a political priority that should particularly focus on youth and vulnerable groups. Given the alarming number of 2,227 drug-related deaths in 2023 - twice as many as a decade ago - Streeck underlines the need for increased action. The drug policy landscape in Germany appears to be getting worse, particularly due to the rise in cocaine trafficking in Europe, which is becoming increasingly cheaper. In addition, trafficking in illegal substances via the Darknet is increasing, making control increasingly difficult for the authorities.

The variety of drugs

Illegal drugs, which are regulated by the Narcotics Act (BtMG), influence the human brain and have various effects on mood, perception and behavior. The most frequently used drugs in Germany include cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines and new psychoactive substances (NPS). Cannabis has a special place in this regard as it is the most widely used illegal drug. According to bas-muenchen.de, the 12-month prevalence of cannabis is 8.8% in the population between 18 and 64 years old.

The health risks associated with drug use are enormous. Long-term consumption can lead to psychological dependence, problems with concentration and other serious health problems. Amphetamines in particular, which are also consumed in the form of ecstasy or crystal meth, pose a high risk to mental health, while cocaine can cause a high level of dependency and serious health consequences. Streeck calls on society to make more efforts in the fight against illegal drug trafficking and calls for cross-border approaches to combat this problem.

Outlook and measures

The upcoming World Drug Day will be used by the United Nations to present the new World Drug Report, which looks at global production, trafficking and consumption of drugs. The number of drug deaths for 2024 will be published at the beginning of July and could again show alarming figures. The need for comprehensive education and prevention is becoming more urgent than ever in order to curb the health, social and societal consequences of the drug problem.

Streeck also calls for society to take the discussion about drugs and addiction seriously and to actively participate in solutions. Only through joint action across borders can we succeed in overcoming the challenges in the area of ​​drugs and addiction. The time is ripe for an open dialogue that includes not only those affected, but society as a whole.