Gedenktag für Drogentote: „Zu spät erreicht, zu selten geschützt“

More than 100 people gathered on Oranienplatz in Berlin on Tuesday to commemorate the lives lost to drug-related causes in the city during 2025. The event, organized by an alliance of organizations within drug addiction support groups, marked the International Day of Remembrance for People Who Died from Drug Use. Attendees included representatives from the Self-Representation Group for Addicts, Former Users, and Substituted Individuals (JES e.V.), who spoke against the rising number of deaths linked to substance abuse. The gathering took place just minutes away from the Kottbusser Tor, a symbolic location in Berlin known for its complex social dynamics. Marc Seidel, representing JES e.V., opened his speech by reflecting on how public spaces in the city can serve as both refuge and danger. He emphasized that the loss of life due to drug use is not merely a result of individual choices but stems from systemic failures that could have been avoided. According to data from the Senate Department for Health and Care, approximately 300 people died in Berlin last year as a direct consequence of overdoses and other effects of consuming illicit substances. This figure represents an increase from the previous year, when 294 individuals lost their lives under similar circumstances. Nationally, the trend has also continued, with the number of drug-related fatalities rising again. Dirk Schäffer, a representative of the AIDS Help organization, noted that the number of victims is likely higher than officially recorded, citing a high dark figure. He pointed to the increasing prevalence of synthetic substances, which he described as significantly more potent, difficult to dose accurately, and associated with numerous side effects. These factors contribute to the growing risk of fatal outcomes among users. Young people are particularly affected, with nearly one in four drug-related deaths involving individuals under the age of 30. This statistic, according to a press release from Federal Narcotics Commissioner Hendrik Streeck (CDU), reflects an increase of over half since 2021. Streeck explained that young people often mix medications, alcohol, and other substances without fully understanding the potentially lethal consequences of such combinations. Schäffer also highlighted the influence of social media and song lyrics that glorify the consumption of synthetic drugs, further endangering youth. He added that access to drugs has become increasingly easier, noting that individuals no longer need to visit the Kotti district to obtain substances, many can simply order them online and receive them within two days. The event’s motto, “Change to Save Lives,” underscored the need for continuous improvement in services and a shift toward a more humane drug policy. Seidel stressed that death does not solely stem from substances but from a system that fails to reach people in time, imposes harsh penalties, and offers insufficient protection. A banner at the event listed five measures aimed at promoting a “human-centered drug policy.” One of these called for low-threshold access to help systems, including substitution therapy, a medically supervised provision of legal alternatives to illicit substances such as heroin. Another measure advocated for expanded drug checking initiatives, where substances can be tested for purity and potential harmful components. Seidel concluded by emphasizing that people do not die solely from substances; they die because of a system that arrives too late, punishes too harshly, and protects too rarely.