: a consumption site to confine a central open drug scene >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Lead partners: City of Essen. Coordination and implementation is ensured by the ’s Office for Social Affairs and Housing. Care services are provided by Suchthilfe direkt Essen, a local assistance provider, and financed through multiple sources, including public funds from the City of Essen and State of North -Westphalia, health insurance and pension benefits, and revenues from training activities.

Calendar: The SDCF opened in 2001. Target group: Drug users in the inner-city area. Websites: https://www.essen.de/rathaus/organisationseinheiten/ organisationseinheit_1188889.de.html

https://www.suchthilfe-direkt.de/

34 Background – responding to a deteriorating public space In the 1990s, the City of Essen witnessed the development of an open drug scene surrounding the central that was saturated with drug users, homeless people, alcohol abusers and sex workers. The consumption of drugs took place in the public space, public toilets, building entrances and other places within the city centre. It engen- dered a heightened risk of injuries and overdoses, and increased the spread of HIV and hepatitis. Drug-related crime increased, notably personal injuries, robbery and prostitution. In parallel with the hardship endured by drug users, the general population suffered from the degradation of the public space and growing public discontent was registered.

Objectives – combining the reduction of public consumption with increased service provision The city’s drug policy is based on the recognition of drug addiction as an illness. In order to reduce the drug consumption scene in a sustain- able manner, the dissolution of consumption in the public space must go hand in hand with the creation of efficient care provision. Further key objectives are the prevention of secondary consequences, such as drug-related crime, social stability and the creation of life perspectives for drug users. The interests of the general public and the minimisation of their burden is equally important.

Strategies and activities – common goals and sustained cooper- ation between stakeholders It quickly became clear that the strategy has to integrate preventive, repressive and care components in order to sustain success. Keeping this in mind, the city consulted not only with law enforcement agencies but also care providers, transit services and economic actors. Together they identified multiple common goals: A significant and sustainable reduction of the open drug scene at the central train station. Prevention of an open drug scene in new locations. Increase in the subjective feeling of security for commuters and passers-by. Decrease in criminality in the city centre. Expansion and/or creation of efficient care offers for drug users. Multiple measures were put in place in order to achieve these goals. As a first step, the city council ensured political consensus by passing a resolution. The political support, the elaboration of common goals and the cooperation between stakeholders were pivotal in the implementa- tion of the strategy. During the preparation phase of the project, a comprehensive media communication strategy kept the population informed. The next step concerned informing drug users about the goals and the upcoming measures, in particular the cessation of existing service points at the central station, and the creation and expansion of service provision at the city’s drug help centre. Targeted police interventions and increased streetwork initiatives during the following weeks enforced the reloca- tion of drug users to the drug help centre. The opening of the SDCF played an important role in the reduction of public drug use. Additional care provisions included four substitution outpatient clinics, an emergency shelter for drug users and the creation of a low-threshold drop-in centre. Cooperation among various stakeholders – municipal social welfare, public order and health offices, municipal and federal police, the public prosecution office and care providers – is guaranteed via contractual arrangements and sustained via regular meetings and councils.

Results – a diverse range of care services offered under a single roof The creation of the SDCF had an important impact on the area surrounding the central train station by removing consumption from public space. The drug help centre offers a diverse range of care provi- sion, including emergency shelter, a drug consumption room, a drop-in centre, substitution, and consultation and referral services. The

36 number of drug-related deaths has been reduced considerably and there are fewer public complaints. In parallel with the implementation of the consumption room, the city also fosters the creation of networks of various institutions. This coop- eration ensures that no new drug consumption scene is established and guarantees swift and appropriate reactions to new problems.

Next steps – staying aware of changing trends The City of Essen continues to adapt its drug policies to the evolving needs of drug users. Changing demographic trends and higher life expectancy among the latter will be monitored while also taking into account the needs of the city’s refugee population. An additional focus point will be the monitoring of emerging substances and changes in trafficking dynamics.

This synthetic presentation was produced in the proceedings of the European project Solidify - Supervised Drug Consumption Facilities to Instill Harm Reduction and Social Cohesion at Local Levels

Co-funded by the European Commission – Justice Programme Supporting Initiatives in the Field of Drugs Policy 2016 (JUST-2016-AG-DRUG)