Cleaner under the bridge: How Wolfenbüttel is tackling drugs

Cleaner under the bridge: How Wolfenbüttel is tackling drugs

A lot has happened in Wolfenbüttel in the last few months, especially at the Auguststädter Weir. More than a year after alarming reports of littering and evidence of the local drug scene, there is an improvement. Beforehand, the bank area was not only heavily polluted, but also had a collection of used syringes and crack equipment, which made the situation unbearable for residents and passers-by. An angler reported the shocking findings in August 2024, prompting the city to take immediate action. Signs of drug use have diminished following a comprehensive clean-up which removed five 100 liter bags of rubbish from the area.

Thorsten Raedlein, city spokesman for Wolfenbüttel, left no doubt that responsibility for the waste lies with those who cause it. The city not only focuses on cleaning, but also on prevention. Café Clara, a meeting place for drug addicts, works closely with the street work team who regularly visit the area. Together they try to improve the handling of consumer utensils and make clients aware of cleanliness. As Ilka Schindler from Lukas-Werk notes, this awareness-raising has apparently had an effect. A recent inspection found the area to be significantly cleaner, and trash and drug paraphernalia have been reduced to a minimum.

The situation in the larger context

While progress is being made in Wolfenbüttel, the drug problem in Germany as a whole has become a cause for concern. Cities like Berlin are struggling with increasingly visible drug scenes. Juri Schaffranek, an experienced street worker, calls for a rethinking of drug policy towards an approach based on acceptance and help, and above all criticizes the Berlin government's current measures, which rely on a restrictive law-and-order policy. There were a total of 270 drug-related deaths in Berlin in 2023, an alarming number that underlines the urgency of the situation.

The rise in consumption of crack cocaine in particular cannot be ignored. This drug is affordable and easy to obtain, which is causing more and more people to become addicted. The number of users has increased, while at the same time the number of drug support measures has declined in many cities. A recent study shows the acute increase in drug users, particularly in urban areas. The closure of vacant lots in inner cities has led to the space for drug addicts in public spaces becoming ever smaller.

Ways to improve

The increasing number of users and the challenges in drug work have led to a drastic rethink. Models such as the “Frankfurt Model,” which includes addiction support centers, have already shown success in reducing the number of drug-related deaths. In Zurich, too, close cooperation between the police and social services found solutions that have contributed to reducing open drug scenes. In the discussion about drug policy, psychosocial support services are increasingly needed, as the Federal Association for Accepting Drug Work recommends.

In summary, despite the positive developments in Wolfenbüttel, the problem of drug addiction remains a serious concern in Germany. The initiatives taken locally could serve as a model for other cities to address the challenges of drug work. Finding solutions and support for all those struggling with addiction remains paramount in order to sustainably improve the situation.