Berlin grappling with drug-related fatalities: Efforts to minimize tragedy
In a bid to curb the rising number of drug-related deaths, the Neukölln district has put forward a comprehensive plan focusing on several interlinked strategies. The aim is to reduce the number of drug-related deaths and improve public health outcomes in the district.
The proposed measures include the establishment of an early warning system to detect and communicate the presence of potentially dangerous or contaminated drugs, drug checking services that allow users to have substances tested for purity and contaminants before consumption, supervised consumption rooms where people can use drugs under medical supervision, and the availability of naloxone, an opioid overdose antidote, to users and first responders.
Moreover, the plan calls for the expansion and support of opioid substitution therapy (OST) programs to provide safer alternatives and reduce the harms associated with illicit opioid use. These measures form a harmonious harm reduction approach that aligns with widely recognized practices in urban districts facing drug-related challenges and have been repeatedly advocated in public health policy discussions for Berlin and similar cities.
Nina Pritszens, the managing director of drug aid provider Vista Berlin, supports the district's recommendations to prevent deaths from drug use. Vista Berlin, which operates counseling centres throughout Berlin and is active in Neukölln with several locations, has also advocated for expanding drug checking services to additional target groups.
The "Give me 5" campaign, which Pritszens supports, proposes five measures to reduce drug-related deaths in 2024, including an early warning system, drug checking, consumption rooms, naloxone availability, and opioid substitution therapy.
Since 2020, the number of deaths from illegal drug use in Neukölln has consistently been between 20 and 30 per year. In 2022, 297 people died from illegal drug use in Berlin, according to Health Senator Ina Czyborra. There is concern in the drug aid system about the spread of synthetic opioids, which are easily overdosed and deadly.
To combat this, the plan is to make naloxone available to all professional groups working with drug-using people, including those in drug and addiction aid, homeless aid, and the police. The district is also trying to secure funds for another consumption room and to expand street social work.
Pritszens suggests better coordination of aid systems, especially addiction aid and housing aid. The district's report mentions the need to connect homeless addicts to the support system. A comprehensive early warning system is still missing in Neukölln, according to Pritszens.
The Senate Administration for Health and the House of Representatives are involved in Neukölln's efforts to reduce drug-related deaths. The district believes that state and local governments can create the necessary framework conditions to implement these measures. Easy access to substitution therapy for opioid addicts, even for the uninsured, is also recommended by Vista Berlin.
Naloxone is a medication that is easy to use and has no negative effects, even if used in people without opioid use. The district's measures are aimed at being prepared for a possible opioid crisis in Berlin. These measures, if implemented effectively, could significantly reduce the number of drug-related deaths in Neukölln and contribute to a healthier and safer city for all its residents.
- The district's plan for reducing drug-related deaths includes implementing mental-health strategies alongside science-based approaches such as early warning systems and drug checking services, which aligns with Vista Berlin's advocacy for expanding drug checking services to additional target groups.
- The proposed measures, like the expansion of opioid substitution therapy and the availability of naloxone, not only aim to address the immediate risks of drug-related deaths but also prioritize mental-health and health-and-wellness by providing safer alternatives and supporting comprehensive care for drug users in Neukölln.
