Day of Remembrance for Drug Deaths: Remscheid mourns and demands changes!

Day of Remembrance for Drug Deaths: Remscheid mourns and demands changes!

Next Sunday, July 21st, all of Germany will remember the drug deaths. The event was created as an expression of compassion and remembrance after Ingo Marten died of an overdose in 1994. Since then, Remembrance Day has developed into an important occasion to draw attention to the serious challenges in dealing with drug addicts. Last year there were 2,227 deaths related to illegal drug use across Germany, the highest number in almost two decades the Federal Drug Commissioner.

But it's not just the numbers that are alarming. The topic is often not discussed enough at the local level. In Remscheid, a special devotion and memorial ritual will take place on this day in the cemetery chapel at the Evangelical City Cemetery. Sandra Hellwig, addiction counselor at Diakonie in the Lennep church district, describes the heartbreaking fates of those affected: “There are many drug deaths who do not receive the dignity and respect they deserve, and many are buried without a funeral service,” she reports, adding that this is a sign of society’s negligence towards addicts. It is often relatives and friends of the deceased who take care of the memory and commemoration.

A call for awareness

The day of remembrance should not only serve as a memorial, but also as an appeal for more support in addiction policy. Burkhard Blienert, Commissioner for Addiction and Drug Policy, calls for a paradigm shift that puts people at the center. “We need less punishment and more support for consumers,” said Blienert. In Remscheid, too, the day of remembrance is used to point out existing deficiencies in the system for addicts. Hellwig and her colleagues from Diakonie are calling for more money for prevention and early offers of help so that they don't only reach people at the end of their addiction.

“We invite all relatives, friends and acquaintances from the drug scene to organize this day together,” says Hellwig. The aim is to reduce the shame of those affected and to sharpen social awareness of this often stigmatized group. The event begins at 5 p.m. in the cemetery chapel and everyone is welcome to attend.

Need for action in addiction policy

The sad figures published by the Federal Drug Commissioner are another sign of the urgent need for action in addiction policy. In 2023, an additional 150,000 people will die as a result of tobacco and alcohol - clear indicators that prevention and education must have ultimate priority. Both local and national actors emphasize that savings in the area of ​​addiction care should be taboo. The committed people who are active in prevention work and addiction support deserve more recognition and support in order to improve the situation in the long term.

On July 21st, numerous events such as church services and minutes of silence will take place across Germany, calling on participants to think about the topic of drug abuse and its effects. Remscheid will also be part of this nationwide initiative to give drug deaths the dignity they deserve and to ensure that those affected and their stories are not forgotten. Remembrance Day is an opportunity to make a difference together and work towards a better future for people suffering from addiction.