Frankfurt expands addiction care with new facility

Integrative Drogenhilfe, a Frankfurt-based organization, plans to expand its services by opening a 25-bed care facility in Fechenheim to address the growing needs of people struggling with addiction.

For 40 years, the organization has provided support and assistance to approximately 5,000 people annually. Gabi Becker, the organization’s managing director, notes that people with addiction are aging and often have multiple health conditions, increasing the demand for comprehensive care.

The organization has observed changing drug trends, including the rise of fentanyl, which is leading to more aggressive behavior among people who use drugs. Becker believes that drug checking, rapid testing to identify the contents of substances, could help prevent overdoses, but a legal framework for it is still lacking in the state of Hesse. The organization is seeking better collaboration with the state government on addressing issues in the Bahnhofsviertel district, where drug use is concentrated.

Integrative Drogenhilfe already operates a larger facility called Eastside, with 100 beds, offering temporary shelter, meals, workshops, and social services. Beyond the Eastside facility, the organization provides a range of services including assisted living, a safe consumption site with a hotline for women experiencing violence, a café, a magazine, and family support. A volunteer program called Buddycare pairs volunteers with people who use drugs for one-on-one support over a year.

The organization was founded in 1983 after a study highlighted the need for a new approach to addiction, focusing on harm reduction and support rather than punishment and abstinence as a condition for aid.