Crack is cocaine that can be smoked. The effect is strong, and addiction develops quickly. In Germany, crack is spreading more and more, but instead of help, it often relies on repression. In Switzerland, they do better.
"I'm starting to get scared because it's getting worse," a Cologne resident told ARD, who was shocked by what was happening in the central city square: crack is being smoked right where young mothers are walking their babies, and not far from them an aid organization is distributing food to homeless people and drug addicts.
Takan spends both his days and nights in this square, the German public media continues. He has been addicted to heroin for over 30 years, he knows everyone in the area - both their assortment and the dealers. In the meantime, almost everyone has switched to "white" drugs, says Takan, who is referring to crack. It changes everything - people are tense and more aggressive, even Takan does not feel comfortable in the central square in Cologne. "Some just go crazy, they become very aggressive."
Crack is spreading more and more
Things are similar in a number of other German cities, writes ARD. Crack has spread a lot, in some places it is the most consumed drug on the street.
Unlike heroin, which is a sedative, crack has a stimulating effect - because it is actually processed cocaine. And in recent years it has flooded both Germany and the whole of Europe. Since 2016, the amount of cocaine imported into Europe has increased almost sixfold. And the price is falling, and a lot, which is why cocaine is really spreading everywhere - even on the streets.
As addiction expert Daniel Daimel told German public media: "The effect is short-lived, but a strong addiction is acquired. Those affected are almost constantly looking for new doses, sleep irregularly, do not take care of their basic needs."
Repression instead of help?
The spread of crack is a challenge for aid organizations - their help must be adapted to the new situation and expanded, say researchers like Daniel Daimel. But - there is no money. According to official figures, 75% of German organizations that help drug addicts do not have enough funding.
In Cologne, for example, most of the money is spent on police repression - a special police unit has even been created for this purpose: patrols have been patrolling the main gathering places of drug addicts for months. Their goal is to reduce and prevent drug consumption and to punish offenders. But if they are chased away from one place, they start gathering elsewhere. Symptoms are being fought without being able to provide effective help, Cologne police chief Johannes Hermans told ARD.
The Cologne police insist on having places where drug addicts can stay to overcome their addiction - away from the streets. But the municipalities do not have the necessary funds.
"We need political courage"
There is no money for support units and measures that, according to experts, can lead to an improvement in the situation, the ARD points out. And this is entirely a matter of municipal commitments, the leaderships of the respective provinces allocate the amounts globally – to "support the municipalities". And how the money is distributed further depends on the municipalities themselves, which often have different priorities.
According to Daniel Daimel, this is worrying. "We need political courage – to say once that we want to change the current situation. Providing assistance costs money, but we have to find it, because there is no alternative.“
The example of Switzerland
In Switzerland, this kind of political courage is a fact – ARD points out. Basel and Zurich are the cities that are a European example of how drug addicts can avoid gathering in public places.
In Basel, for example, aid organizations work closely with the city authorities, the police and the prosecutor's office. In many Swiss cities, there are special rooms for drug addicts, where they are allowed to exchange small amounts of drugs for personal use. In this way, those affected can partially finance their consumption without being in public view, the German media reports.
The goal is to remove the trade from public space and decriminalize consumption. "We have to do something for those affected," says Horst Bühlmann from the organization that helps drug addicts in Basel.
Many of Germany's major cities, however, are far from this kind of thinking, ARD reports. In many provinces, there are not even places where drug addicts can gather. In Cologne, there is still a protected space for them, but it is closed on Sundays and at night. Because there is a lack of money and staff.