Battle for Frankfurt addiction center: Politicians argue about help for addicts!

Battle for Frankfurt addiction center: Politicians argue about help for addicts!

In Frankfurt, the signs point to a storm when it comes to the addiction help center at Niddastrasse 76. A crucial vote in the city parliament is scheduled for July 3rd, which will decide on the future of this facility. Tensions between Mayor Mike Josef (SPD) and health department head Elke Voitl (The Greens) characterize the discussion. One dispute revolves around the treatment of out-of-town drug users. Josef would like to implement a pilot project that would see these people turned away from the drug emergency service on Elbestrasse, while Voitl emphasizes the legal obligations to help homeless and incomeless people and there is no information about the project that she could judge.

The Left faction is also involved. She supports the addiction center, but in order to approve the project she demands that social assistance be implemented for all addicts, regardless of where they live. Dominike Pauli (Left) expects clarity from Josef in the planning committee. While the left calls for comprehensive support for those affected, Josef has a clear agenda: reducing the open drug scene. Over 50% of consumers in the Bahnhofsviertel are not from Frankfurt, which underlines the urgency of his position.

Insight into drug help

The Integrative Drug Aid e.V., an organization established since 1986, plays an essential role in this process. She is committed to improving the living situation of drug addicts and their families and combines scientific findings with practical experience. The company was a pioneer in the first consumption room in Germany and is therefore an important player in the drug help system beyond the country's borders. Their commitment includes not only addiction support, but also integration assistance, youth and family assistance and employment promotion. Integrative drug help aims to improve healthcare with innovative therapeutic approaches and has already developed alternative models.

The challenges of addiction prevention and help are broad and complex. In Germany, around nine million people consume alcohol to a problematic extent, and around 1.5 million use illegal substances. The Federal Ministry of Health emphasizes that a fraction of those affected use offers of help, which is why it is crucial to take a closer look at the services offered by addiction help facilities.

Controversies and solutions

The current discourses show how different the approaches to drug policy are in Frankfurt. While the integrative drug service rejects entry controls, the drug emergency service under Wolfgang Barth questions these in some cases. Barth has repeatedly emphasized how important an objective discussion is not only about drug users, but also about general drug policy in Frankfurt. However, the health department has banned him from events with owners and stakeholders in the Bahnhofsviertel, raising questions about transparency and the motives behind such decisions.

The coming weeks could be crucial for addiction help in Frankfurt. The vote in the city parliament will not only have an impact on the addiction help center on Niddastrasse, but also on the course for the drug policy of the entire city. It remains exciting to see how the differences of opinion between political decision-makers develop and whether the needs of those affected are sufficiently taken into account.