Trouble over drug consumption room: Politicians argue about the Cologne Kaufhof headquarters!

Trouble over drug consumption room: Politicians argue about the Cologne Kaufhof headquarters!

There is currently a heated debate in Cologne about the future of the drug consumption room on Neumarkt. Cologne police chief Johannes Hermanns has called for the existing consumption room to be closed. The reason for this is the rapidly spreading crack consumption, which has turned the city into a drug hotspot. The latest data shows that Cologne in particular is affected by a sharp increase in crack addictions, which is exacerbating the situation on Neumarkt. Loud ZDF Not only has it developed into a center for the drug scene, but public problems such as begging and drug-related crime are also increasing.

The discussion about a new consumer space in the former Kaufhof headquarters on Leonhard-Tietz-Straße is forcing Cologne politicians to take action. A model inspired by Zurich is up for debate here. In this Zurich model, the trading of small quantities among addicts in consumption rooms is tolerated. Experts call crack a “game changer”; Consumers often only stay in such facilities for a short time, which can make it difficult to provide better care from social workers, according to experiences in other cities. It could therefore make sense to focus on several consumption rooms spread across Cologne and to work more closely with experts.

Politics in trouble

The proposal to use the empty Kaufhof headquarters as a new location for the consumer space is causing different opinions among the political parties in the city. The Greens, SPD and Left support the idea, while the CDU and FDP are pushing for a widespread relocation of new consumption spaces from inner-city areas and emphasizing the need for medical help and social work. Bernd Petelkau, the CDU parliamentary group leader, emphasizes that the legal framework and social consequences must be examined closely. The SPD supports the project, but is calling for a prior change in the law. The Left, on the other hand, advocates a pragmatic approach and a “Cologne solution”.

The head of the existing drug consumption room on Neumarkt, Stefan Lehmann, describes the need for such rooms as essential to avoid impoverishment and deaths. Sterile utensils are provided in his area and emergency medical care and social assistance are provided. However, critics argue that these measures can lead to habituation to drug use, as has been repeatedly emphasized in numerous reports.

Challenge and solution

The city has rented the Kaufhof property until 2045, but blockages have arisen in the conversion plans due to high costs and a lack of transparency. Meanwhile, an addiction help center for crack addicts is being planned in Frankfurt, which will support the development of a comprehensive offering for addicts.

In view of the current challenges, Dr. Harald Rau, the head of the social affairs department in Cologne, deals constructively with addiction problems. The goal remains to get addicts out of illegality and to offer them the opportunity for social integration, similar to the successful Zurich model, where there have been no major open drug scenes for 30 years.

The debate about the drug consumption room is of great importance for the city of Cologne, not least to ensure good coexistence in society and to offer addicts a realistic chance of recovery.