Drug report by the federal government: Significantly more deaths from opiates and amphetamines

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Paraphernalia for heroin consumption: the number of drug-related deaths is increasing

Photo: Marcus Simaitis/ dpa

In 2020, 1826 men and women died in Germany from the consumption of illegal intoxicants.

This was announced by the federal government's drug commissioner, Burkhard Blienert, on Monday in Berlin.

The current figure represents a 15.5 percent increase from last year, when 1,581 people died.

In 2017 there were 1272 drug deaths.

As in previous years, heroin and other opioids, alone or in combination with other substances, accounted for most of the deaths.

The number of drug-related deaths from heroin overdoses alone has risen to 195.

An overdose of opioid substitution drugs killed 88 people - 167 percent more than in the previous year.

Blienert called the numbers "shocking."

There should be no »business as usual« in German drug policy. Help, treatment and advice should reach people more quickly and directly.

"What we need now - and fast - is a basic discussion with the countries," said Blienert.

»It must not be the case that people who are seriously addicted are not reached at all and are left alone with their illness and its social consequences.«

According to the report, the number of deaths from poisoning with amphetamine alone (92), amphetamine derivatives (13), methamphetamine (23) and cocaine (74) has also increased.

ala/dpa