Zurich opens drop-in centre for non-resident drug addicts

Zurich opens drop-in centre for drug addicts from abroad Keystone-SDA

In response to the increasing use of drugs in public spaces, the city of Zurich will open a temporary drug consumption room for drug addicts from outside the city.

For non-resident addicts, there is no alternative to consumption of drugs in public spaces resulting in police evictions, the city announced on Tuesday.

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The existing services offered by the contact and drop-in centres are only aimed at residents of Zurich. The proposed “Room for Consumption and Sorting” on Bederstrasse will open on October 1. It will initially offers out-of-town drug consumers a place of retreat. Afterwards, the addicts will be referred to their communities of origin.

“We are hoping for lasting relief for those affected, public spaces and the population,” says Social Democrat Head of Social Affairs Raphael Golta. Drug use in District 4 continued to increase over the summer. The hotspot also expanded from the Bäckeranlage further into the neighbourhood.

Adapted from German by DeepL/ac

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