Dusseldorf.
In 2021, 693 drug deaths were counted in NRW, this was published by the NRW State Criminal Police Office. This is the highest level in 30 years.
- The number of drug-related deaths has increased in NRW within four years more than tripled.
- The leading cause of death is consumption opioids and opiates – often in combination with other substances.
- The rise in deaths could be due to the corona pandemic The North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Health suspects that it was partly caused.
Worrying numbers drug crime: The number of drug-related deaths has skyrocketed in North Rhine-Westphalia. Within four years she even has herself more than tripled. With an increase of 73 percent to 693 drug-related deaths, the highest level in 30 years was reached in 2021. This emerges from the current situation picture of the State Criminal Police Office (LKA) NRW on drug crime.
Nationwide, the increase in drug-related deaths during this period was “only” 44 percent – including North Rhine-Westphalia. Measured by the proportion of the population, the number of drug-related deaths in NRW is now almost double the national level.
Drug crime in NRW: chemical drugs on the rise
In the case of deaths, the proportion of acute poisoning as the cause of death increased particularly in NRW. Deaths from misuse increased by 400 percent in one year, from 4 to 20 deaths. In addition to accidental overdose, increasing willingness to take risks could also be a reason for the increase in the number of deaths, according to the LKA.
Also read:More dead, risky substance: NRW has a massive drug problem
The most common cause of death is the consumption of opioids and opiates – often in connection with other substances, reports the addiction cooperation NRW in Cologne. A nasal spray should now remedy the situation, because many of the deaths could have been avoided by using the spray, it is said.
Federal Ministry of Health project for opioid users
As a nasal spray, the drug naloxone can reverse the breath-killing effects of heroin, fentanyl or morphine within minutes and thus save lives. In a pilot project funded by the Federal Ministry of Health, as many opioid users as possible should be shown how to act correctly in an emergency and how to administer the spray.
Also read: Energy-intensive and life-threatening: the drug market in NRW
The North Rhine-Westphalia Ministry of Health had already suspected that the increase in deaths was partly caused by the corona pandemic. Low-threshold addiction help offers were only available to a limited extent at times, and the drug consumption rooms in NRW were visited less frequently. The pandemic has also temporarily reduced the number of detox spots.
Opioids: Epidemic in the US and Canada
Potent synthetic opioids such as the pain reliever fentanyl had caused an epidemic in the US and Canada. Prescribed as a pain reliever, they had turned hundreds of thousands into opioid addiction. The number of drug-related deaths in the United States recently rose to 107,000 a year.
Due to the much higher potency than heroin, fentanyl is extremely dangerous, warns Federal Drug Commissioner Burkhard Blienert. Nationwide, fentanyl is jointly responsible for a total of 102 deaths in 2021.
Suspected of clandestine incorporation into street heroin
Since last December, investigations have been carried out into the extent to which illegally manufactured fentanyl is widespread in the drug scene in Germany. Tests are carried out to investigate the suspicion that fentanyl is secretly mixed into street heroin.
The nationwide survey of the causes of death among drug-related deaths in 2020 revealed indications of fentanyl deaths. However, the greatest increase in deaths of 95 percent within one year was due to “unknown poisonings”.
Increased crack consumption can also be observed in NRW
The increase in deaths can be observed in NRW across all causes of death – especially in connection with opiates and opioids, reports Dorothee Mücken from the NRW addiction cooperation. In the drug consumption rooms in North Rhine-Westphalia, however, an increased use of crack can also be observed.
Even apart from the number of drug-related deaths – meaning only deaths in connection with illegal drugs – the situation picture of the LKA gives a bleak outlook: the number of drug-related offenses rose by almost ten percent in 2021 compared to the previous year to 74,600 acts. The reported cases of drug trafficking and smuggling rose by almost 25 percent. An increase of more than 20 percent was registered in drug-related crime.
Online drug sales on the dark web are booming
One cause of the increase in drug-related crime has been the flourishing mail order of drugs thanks to the booming online mail order business on the Darknet. (dpa)
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