New drug room on Neumarkt: Cologne relies on help instead of repression!

New drug room on Neumarkt: Cologne relies on help instead of repression!

A lot is currently happening at the Neumarkt in Cologne. The Drug Aid Cologne and the Social Service for Catholic Men (SKM) are committed to significantly improving the situation surrounding the open drug scene. As ksta.de reports, the two organizations are calling for closer cooperation with the city in order to advance aid projects. Your concern is clear: inclusion in the planning is essential!

At the end of September, the city administration presented a plan for an interim solution that would provide for a new drug consumption room near Neumarkt by March 2026. The previous location in the health department will soon be history. In the long term, the organizations are eyeing the construction of three addiction help centers in Cologne, which will provide an important contact point for those affected.

Common call for change

The drug help center and the SKM are of the opinion that they have not yet been sufficiently included in the planning. In order to effectively address the situation, the organizations have written a joint letter to the city administration making specific demands. This includes inclusion in future planning as well as clarification of financing and offers of help. The so-called “Cologne Model” is intended to help relieve pressure on public spaces and provide quick help for those affected. With 18 facilities, the Cologne Drug Help Center is one of the largest contact points for people at risk of addiction in the cathedral city.

The SKM Cologne, which is the provider of over 70 outpatient and inpatient support facilities and services, emphasizes that cooperation with experienced providers is crucial in order to overcome the challenges on Neumarkt. This was also evident by the increase in crime in the area, as listed in the Makos Municipal Security Plan, where an increase in homeless and mentally ill people was noted. Conflicts between drug users, residents and business people are also increasing. A problem that cannot be ignored.

Vision of a relief center

Another point that the drug help center and the SKM address is their proposal for a permanent help center on Neumarkt that should tackle the problems at the root. It is based on a successful concept from Vienna and is intended to provide refuge for drug users without pushing them out of the city center. This would provide a safe environment where support and medical attention is available.

The planned center would offer services such as safe drug use, showers, food, relaxation areas and consultation hours for medical care. Social counseling and placement in detoxification or therapy would also be part of the concept. Residents and visitors could experience better coexistence in the city center, which would be beneficial for everyone involved.

Time is short and expectations are high. The drug help center and the SKM have thought their case through well and are offering support to the city of Cologne. We are excited to see how the plans develop and whether the organizations' commitment will bear fruit, because one thing is clear: solutions are needed that don't just relocate people, but offer real help.

To find out more about help offers for people suffering from addiction, visit the website of the German Main Office for Addiction Issues, which lists a variety of self-help associations that offer support.