Frankfurt sets new standards: crack addiction help only for Frankfurters!

Frankfurt sets new standards: crack addiction help only for Frankfurters!

In Frankfurt there is a new course in drug policy that not only questions the existing structures, but also sets clear limits. Mayor Mike Josef (SPD) has announced that the planned crack addiction help center will only benefit Frankfurt residents. This means that the drug emergency service on Elbestrasse will also only be available to the local population. Visitors from other cities should be accompanied back to their hometowns. Josef emphasizes the necessity of this measure in order not to overwhelm the city even further, and at the same time notes that the appeal to other municipalities to set up their own aid facilities has so far gone unheard. This raises some questions, particularly about the reaction from other coalition parties regarding future support for these measures.

The Honsell Triangle, until recently a brownfield site, is currently being redeveloped by ING and will provide another headquarters in Germany in the future. At the same time, Claus Kaminsky, the long-time mayor of Hanau, is preparing for his retirement after pushing forward the conversion of old military areas and the modernization of his city since 2003.

Drug situation in Frankfurt

Frankfurt is facing a special challenge. A property is being sought to provide better care for crack addicts. As the city shows in its drug policy, the Frankfurter Weg, which has existed since the 1990s, has been adapted to changing consumption patterns. In 1991 there were almost 150 drug deaths per year, while the number has since been reduced to around 20. This is a significant development, but one that needs new focus as crack becomes more prevalent.

Head of Social Affairs Elke Voitl (Greens) emphasizes that new approaches are required to meet the changing requirements. The need for an integrated drug and addiction treatment center is clear, even if crack use is not to be distributed within this center. A new framework is necessary because Voitl is also seeking a change in legal regulations to tolerate drug use outdoors under certain conditions.

Political support and outlook

There appears to be political support for a reform of the Frankfurter Weg, but there are concerns that implementation could result in an increase in drug users in the Bahnhofsviertel. Hessian Interior Minister Roman Poseck (CDU) calls for an expansion of social work and suitable rooms for all addicts in order to ensure holistic support.

In terms of the weather forecast, the day will remain largely dry, with summer highs of 29 degrees - ideal for a visit to the city or for discussing these pressing social issues. We also send warm birthday greetings to our prominent fellow citizens, including Stefan Ress, Andreas Zimmer, Michael Groß and Birgit Sander.