The planned drug help center should offer addicts the opportunity to consume their drugs in a safe and secure environment and under medical supervision. It is scheduled to open in the fall. The city council decided on Thursday evening.
The drug scene should move away from the Theaterplatz in the city center
The help center is to be built in the Red Cross’s previous corona test station on Schwertstraße, near the main train station. In addition to a drug consumption room, doctors and a drug counseling café are also to be accommodated in the 250 square meters.
With the new meeting place, the city wants to pull the drug scene away from the busy Theaterplatz. There have always been complaints from passers-by and residents.
The new drug help center should also help to ensure the survival of people dependent on addiction and, if necessary, to enable them to get out of addiction.
Protest against location of help center
Residents of Schwertstraße had previously protested against the location of the new help center. They fear that the drug scene will shift to their street and a nearby playground.
Sabine Lauxen, head of the health department in Krefeld, argues for the new center on Schwertstraße: “It only makes sense to set up a drug help center in a location that is close to the whereabouts of people using illegal drugs. Everything else doesn’t work. That means we have to go downtown.“
The decision for the help center was made in the city council with votes from the SPD, Greens, FDP and smaller parties.
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