Increase in drug-related fatalities by 13% reported
Germany records a 13% surge in drug-related deaths in the first half of 2020, according to a report by "Die Welt am Sonntag." The startling figure amounts to 662 drug-related deaths, an increase from the same period in 2019.
The steepest percentage increase was witnessed in Bremen, where 24 drug-related deaths were reported, compared to six in the previous year. The national figure for 2019 represented the highest level since 2009.
In light of these grim figures, Germany's drug commissioner, Daniela Ludwig, calls for an expansion of support for long-term drug consumers. Ludwig asserts, "Every person who dies from their drug consumption is one too many."
Germany's Interior Minister for North Rhine-Westphalia, Herbert Reul (CDU), proposes ramping up investigative measures against those who profit from addicts' addiction, exploiting them ruthlessly.
In a contrasting stance, SPD health policy spokesman Karl Lauterbach favors some drugs being legalized. According to Lauterbach, gradual legalization first for lighter drugs like cannabis and marijuana, followed by harder drugs like cocaine, would enable an evaluation of its effectiveness.
Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) advocates for a zero-tolerance policy towards drugs, arguing that soft drugs are often gateways to drug addiction, particularly for children and young people.
The ongoing discussions in Germany revolve around striking a balance between maintaining public health protections and providing more regulated access to substances like cannabis. The government aims to evaluate the ongoing legalization's impact before making any major policy shifts. However, the CDU party, with figures such as Christin Christ, remains critical of the legalization, voicing concerns about increased drug trafficking and undermining youth protection.
In recent developments, the federal government has appointed new commissioners to unify and strengthen addiction treatment, recovery, and patient care policies across federal states, aiming for national coherence in addiction policy amidst decentralized healthcare governance. The coalition government is also considering maintaining the partial cannabis legalization introduced by the previous coalition, with findings expected in late 2025. However, a complete reversal of cannabis legalization is considered highly unlikely due to political and practical challenges and limited public support for such a move.
In the health-and-wellness sector, SPD health policy spokesman Karl Lauterbach proposes investigating the potential benefits of partial drug legalization, such as cannabis, to facilitate a comprehensive evaluation of its impact on mental-health and overall public health. On the other hand, Bavaria's Interior Minister Joachim Herrmann (CSU) advocates for a stricter approach, considering soft drugs like cannabis as gateway substances that could lead to increased drug addiction, particularly among children and young people.
