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Joint strategies for addiction support and a demand for state support
The cities of Frankfurt and Darmstadt have agreed to strengthen their cooperation in drug assistance. Frankfurt's Head of Social Affairs and Health, Elke Voitl, and Darmstadt's Mayor and Head of Social Affairs, Barbara Akdeniz, emphasize that the operational collaboration, which has developed over years, will now also be intensified at the political level.
“Both cities share the same goal and have established a well-functioning support network. Therefore, we are jointly addressing the challenges that many other cities in Hesse are also facing,” the two department heads explained.
Darmstadt is considering a drug consumption room and expanding support services
Darmstadt has further expanded its addiction support structures in recent years. In addition to existing facilities where drug addicts receive counseling, meals, hygiene products and sterile syringes, the support system is to be further developed.
- The street work program was already expanded in 2024.
- The drug support facility "Scentral" will move into a new building with common rooms later this year.
- A new outdoor area with shelter and contact options will be set up in the adjacent Herrngarten
- The city is also examining whether and how a drug consumption room can be set up .
Frankfurt calls for nationwide aid offers
Frankfurt has been facing rising numbers of crack and fentanyl users for years. Social Affairs Commissioner Voitl emphasizes that addiction support is a statewide responsibility
"Crack and fentanyl have long since arrived in small and medium-sized towns. No municipality will be able to hide from them indefinitely. I am pleased that Darmstadt is the first city in Hesse to follow my proposal for cooperation."
Last year, Voitl and Mayor Mike Josef called on cities and municipalities in Hesse to establish their own support structures. Frankfurt's drug support service focuses on a differentiated range of services including counseling, prevention, and supervised consumption sites.
Joint demand to the state of Hesse
Akdeniz and Voitl see the challenges of dealing with changing consumer behavior as a supra-regional problem and call for appropriate support from the state of Hesse:
“We also expect financial support in Darmstadt to meet the demands of the growing scene,” emphasizes Mayor Akdeniz. “All major cities in Hesse need to be better equipped, because many consumers also come to Darmstadt from the surrounding area.”
Frankfurt and Darmstadt, through their collaboration, are sending a strong signal for supra-regional drug assistance and appealing to the state to take responsibility for comprehensive support.
(DRAMSTADT – RED/PSD)
