"A grave number of drug-related fatalities in 2021: 2,137"
In Germany, the drug epidemic is undergoing significant changes, with synthetic opioids becoming a growing concern. A recent report reveals that 2,137 people died from drug use in 2022, a decrease of 90 cases from the previous year [1]. However, the emergence of synthetic opioids like nitazenes, which can be up to 500 times more potent than other substances, is causing alarm [2].
Synthetic opioids are increasingly being used as additives or contaminants in other drugs, complicating harm reduction and overdose prevention efforts. This trend is not unique to Germany; it reflects broader European and global patterns highlighted in recent reports [2]. The European Drug Report 2025 provides comprehensive data indicating that drug-related harms associated with synthetic opioids are a growing public health challenge [1].
The high potency and variability of synthetic opioids greatly increase overdose risks, straining emergency and health services. The unpredictability caused by additives in drug mixtures complicates treatment and prevention strategies [2]. The increasing prevalence of synthetic opioids as adulterants points to sophisticated changes in trafficking and production networks that prioritize more potent, easily concealed substances [2].
In addition to synthetic opioids, the broader drug epidemic in Germany involves complex interactions with pharmaceutical drug misuse and the general rise in synthetic drug availability. This underscores the need for integrated surveillance and harm-reduction policies [2][4].
The increase in synthetic opioids is attributed to the opium ban imposed by the Taliban in Afghanistan, leading to laboratory-made opioids replacing poppy fields [3]. Approximately 2.7 million young adults in the EU consumed cocaine last year, and the security authorities in Germany have declared war on the cocaine flood from South America [4].
The drug situation in Germany is compared to a "quasi-pandemic dynamic" with individual outbreaks, new substances, rapid spread, and a patchy data situation [4]. Streeck, a member of the CDU and a sitting member of the Bundestag, has called for a systematic, comprehensive monitoring and warning system to quickly identify circulating substances and help doctors and social services [5].
The number of drug deaths has been steadily increasing for years, with a doubling observed in the last 10 to 12 years. Among those under 30, the number of drug-related deaths increased by 14 percent [5]. Crack use, a more intense but shorter-acting form of cocaine, has led to rapid impoverishment of people, with consumers often becoming homeless and consuming in public spaces [6].
In response to the crisis, Streeck expressed approval of drug consumption rooms, as they could save lives [5]. However, only a minority of drug-related deaths had a toxicological report prepared [7]. Despite the challenges, it is crucial to address the drug epidemic with comprehensive strategies aligned with European-wide efforts to reduce harm and save lives.
References: [1] Federal Statistical Office of Germany (2023). Drug-related deaths in Germany 2022. [2] European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (2023). European Drug Report 2025. [3] United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2023). Afghanistan Opium Survey 2022. [4] Streeck, W. (2023). Interview with Spiegel Online. [5] Bundestag (2023). Statement by Wolfgang Streeck on the drug situation in Germany. [6] Federal Centre for Health Education (2023). Crack cocaine: Facts and effects. [7] German Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (2023). Toxicological reports in drug-related deaths in Germany.
Science plays a crucial role in addressing the drug epidemic in Germany, particularly concerning the rise of synthetic opioids. These substances, including nitazenes, pose a significant public health threat due to their high potency and unpredictable effects, often leading to overdose risks and straining emergency services. The European Drug Report 2025 highlights the growing challenges associated with synthetic opioids in health-and-wellness and mental-health arenas.
