International - Germany

Germany - Data

(2006) "The latest representative survey, the nationwide Epidemiological Survey on Addiction (ESA) was conducted in Germany in 2006. It shows that 25.4 % of the 18–59 year olds questioned have used illegal drugs at least once in their life (lifetime prevalence). Compared to the results of the ESA carried out in 2003, lifetime prevalence of all substances remained almost unchanged. However, in the 12-month and 30-day categories, the most recent figures are markedly lower than the ones found in 2003 (12 months: 25.4 % in 2006; 25.2 % in 2003; 30-days: 2.7 % in 2006; 3.9 % in 2003). These declines can almost exclusively be explained by lower prevalence of cannabis. Cannabis is by far the most used drug. Last year prevalence of cannabis use is 4.7 % and last month, 2.2 %. As regards the use of other substances during the last year, cocaine is reported by 0.6 %, amphetamines by 0.5 % and XTC and mushrooms both by 0.4 % of respondents. In terms of a younger age range (18–39 years), a decline of the last year use of cannabis was reported, compared to 2000 and 2003 surveys. For other substances, only slight variations were noticed. In 2006, last year cannabis use was reported by 9.2 % of respondents, compared to 10.4 % in 2000 and 11.8 % in 2003."

(2006) "The most recently available estimate of problem drug use including the users of cocaine and amphetamines refers to the year 2006 and estimates the prevalence to be between 169 000 and 201 000 (3.1–3.6 per 1 000 inhabitants, aged 15–64)."

(2007) "Figures collected from treatment police contacts and drug-related deaths led to an estimate of the number of problematic opiate users for Germany at between 1.5 to 2.7 per 1 000 inhabitants, corresponding to a total number of between 82 000 and 149 000 persons."

(2007) "In 2007, a total of 48 475 clients entered treatment, out of which 19 493 were new treatment clients. 49.8 % of those who sought treatment for the first time were cannabis users and 28.5 % opiate users, while the figures for all persons entering treatment shows a different distribution: 50.3 % were opiate users and 29.9 % were cannabis users."

(2007) "According to the Robert Koch-Institut, 5.6 % (2006: 6.1 %) among those diagnosed with HIV for the first time in 2007 were injecting drug users (IDUs). Until the year 2000, this figure was reported at above 10.1 %. The prevalence of HIV infection among clients starting treatment declined from 5 % to 2.1 % in most small-scale studies available in this area. According to the BKS, a positive HIV-status was found in 3.4 % of the drug-related deaths (48 out of 1 384) compared to 2.9 % in 2006."

(2007) "The most recent data from the General Mortality Register in 2007 show that a total of 1 394 persons died in connection with illicit drugs which represents an increase by 7.6 % from 2006 to 2007. In 2006, the Police Registry of the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) recorded a total of 1 296 drug-related deaths, a decrease of 2.3 % compared with 2005."

(2007) "In 7,662 cases, amphetamine/methamphetamine totalling 820 kg was seized. Compared to 2006, this represents an increase both in the number of cases (+12%) and in the quantity seized (+13%).

"By far the largest share of seized amphetamine of known origin came from the Netherlands. Significantly smaller quantities were smuggled into the country from Belgium and Poland."

(2007) "In comparison to the previous year, the number of users of hard drugs who came to police notice for the first time dropped by 4 % to 18,620 persons in 2007.

"While the figures recorded for heroin, cocaine, ecstasy and crystal showed a downward trend, the number of amphetamine and crack users who came to police notice for the first time increased."

(2007) "With regard to cannabis products, there was a decline in 2007 both in the number of cases (-10%) and in the total quantity seized (-13%).

"As regards hashish, the number of seizures dropped by 17% to 9,762 cases and the total quantity seized declined even more significantly by 34% to 3,678 kg. The lest seizure amount in 2007 is primarily due to the fact, that in preceding year over 2 tons of hashish were confiscated in the course of three seizures alone.

"The development with regard to cases and amount of marihuana was inconsistent. Whereas on the one hand the number of seizures dropped by 7% compared to 2006, amounting to 21,831 cases, on the other hand the total quantity seized increased significantly by 28%, amounting to 3,770 kg.

"As in the previous year, the Netherlands was by far the most important country of origin or transit for cannabis products."

"During the year under review, cannabis was, to a considerable extent, cultivated both outdoors and indoors in Germany. One professional outdoor plantation as well as 14 large plantations and 68 small plantations were registered. In addition, 21 professional indoor sites, 93 large indoor plantations and 233 small indoor plantations were seized."

(2007) "The number of ecstasy seizures rose by 5% to 2,495 cases in 2007 whereas the quantity seized (985,218 tablets) decreased by 9% compared to the previous year.

"The majority of the tablets seized came from the Netherlands. In individual cases, larger quantities were proved to have been imported from Turkey, Poland or Switzerland."

(2007) "In 2007 heroin totalling 1,074 kg was seized in 6,853 cases. Thus the number of seizures increased moderately (+1%) while at the same time the quantity seized rose considerably (+22%).

"The increase in the total quantity of heroin seized is above all the result of one individual seizure of more than 300 kg in Baden-Württemberg and another seizure of approximately 150 kg made in connection with an investigation conducted by the Bundeskriminalamt (Federal Criminal Police Office)."

(2007) "In 2007 cocaine totalling 1,888 kg was seized in 4,199 cases. Both the number of cases (+6%) and the quantity seized (+9%) increased compared to the previous year.

"The largest seizure, approximately 480 kg, was made in Bremerhaven. The cocaine originated in Panama and was destined for Antwerp. Cocaine was frequently smuggled into Germany from the Netherlands during numerous trips made for the purpose of procuring drugs."

(1999) "With regard to experience with drugs (lifetime) among adults aged between 18 and 59, the latest representative surveys (Kraus & Bauernfeind 1998) reveal that in the old Laender 14.2% of the subjects have used illegal drugs during their lifetime. Taken as a proportion of the population as a whole, this corresponds to around 5.7 million adults with experience of drugs. Within this group there are plainly more men with experience of drugs (17.1%) than women (11.3%). In the group of younger adults aged between 18 and 39, the proportion of people with experience of drugs is as high as 21.5%. In the new Laender the prevalence rates are considerably lower. The figure for adults between 18 and 59 with experience of drugs is 4.8%, representing 400,000 people (240,000 men, 161,000 women). In this group the frequency of experience with drugs among men is almost 50% higher as among women. As in the old Laender, higher prevalence rates are found in the group of younger adults aged from 18 to 39. The corresponding proportion in the new Laender is 8.9%, more than half of the level in the old Laender."

(1999) "On the basis of the report from the AIDS centre of the Robert Koch Institute [inactive URL] the proportion of drug addicts amongst new notified AIDS cases in 1999 was about 12% in Germany. In Hamburg and Baden-Wurttemberg its percentage of 34.6% and 26% was nationally at its highest (Table 12). Referred to a cumulative total number of 18,524 AIDS cases in the register the percentage is 14.9%. It has been possible to slow down substantially the spread of the HI-virus among drug users in the last years. Prevention measures, campaigns to discourage needle-sharing and innovations such as substitution and syringe-exchange programmes have clearly had an effect here."

(1999) "Given the fact that about 80% of drugs addicts are unemployed, about 50% don't have any professional training, about 60 to 70% have no sufficient school education and about 20% do not have stable housing there are diverse areas of responsibilities. It has to be taken into consideration that the development of drug addiction was often accompanied by school or job failure, therefore qualification in this specific area is absolutely necessary in treatment of drug addiction. Facing about 60,000 treated drug addicts per year at least 30,000 offers in the field of re-integration should be available. In fact existing services in the field of occupation/ qualification can reach about 1,500 persons, in the field of education about 300 persons, in the field of housing about 2,000 persons and in the field of culture (theatre, music, arts etc.) about 200 persons at best."

(1997) "The use of drugs other than cannabis has become much more significant in comparison to previous years. This most probably is linked to an increasingly spread of ecstasy use. In spite of this, reported experiences with drugs mostly still related to cannabis use. Only around one third of all persons with drug experience, 6.8% of younger adults (18-39 years) in the West and 2.5% in the East report, having ever used a drug other than cannabis. Lifetime experiences with other illegal drugs can be found mostly between 1.3% (East) and 4.5% (West) (in case of heroin less than 1%) of the population. In the West amphetamines, ecstasy, LSD and cocaine are more frequently consumed, in the East ecstasy and amphetamines."

(1997) "Almost 2 million German citizens (4.5% in the West and 2.3% in the East) aged between 18 and 59 have used cannabis in the past 12 months. In Eastern Germany there is an increasing use of cannabis compared to the representative surveys in 1995. Recent use (last 12 months) is 2 times as frequent among men than among women and is much more widespread in younger age groups (18-39 years) 7.8% in the West and 4.5% in the East) than among elder people. The figures from the new Laender prove that cannabis use has already spread considerably there."

Germany - Law and Policy

(harm reduction) "Harm reduction is one of the four pillars of the national drug strategy. The major aim of harm reduction is to reduce mortality and morbidity. During the last few decades a system of low threshold measures has been built up which has an important function in particular in the drug scenes of cities.

"Outreach work is one method of supporting harm reduction in Germany. There are also drug help centres, which serve as a contact address for drug users and give support in emergency cases by offering psycho-social and medical help. Needle and syringe exchange points exist nationwide although data on the number of distribution points or the number of distributed syringes are not available. Drug consumption rooms can be installed, if the government of the Federal Land passes a special regulation on the basis of a national law. This was done by 6 out of 16 Länder in 2004 resulting in a total number of 26 drug consumption rooms in Germany.

"In addition, there are about 400 institutions offering services of harm reduction in Germany, which are primarily financed by the municipalities. Most of them are outpatient treatment centres, which offer a variety of different services including harm reduction."

(law) "In Germany, the Law on Drugs, as amended on 26 January 1998 (Federal Law Gazette Part I p. 160), provides that the public prosecutor may decide not to impose a penalty (imprisonment for a term of up to five years) if the offence can be deemed minor – that is, if a criminal prosecution would not be in the public interest and if the offender cultivates, produces, imports, exports, carries in transit or purchases drugs for his or her personal use only, in other words, obtains or possesses insignificant quantities. Together with this law it is important to recall also the 1994 judgment of the Federal Constitutional Court of Karlsruhe, which drew attention to ‘the prohibition of excessive penalties inherently provided for in the German Constitution’. Since then, cannabis possession should not result in prosecution if the following conditions are satisfied: (a) personal use; (b) small quantity; (c) occasional use; (d) no harm to other people.

(policy) "In the last years, the formerly narrow drug policy concept has gradually evolved into a crosssubstance 'addiction' policy which brings the common aspects of psychotropic substances more into the foreground of the interest of drug experts and politicians. The 'Action Plan Drugs and Addiction' which has been presented by the drug commissioner of the German Federal Government in June 2003 and which is supposed to serve as a framework for the national addiction policy for the next five to ten years, makes this approach clearly visible for the first time as part of an overall political concept.

"The four pillars on which the addiction policy rests, are prevention, counseling and treatment of drug users, survival aides and harm reduction as well as repression and reduction of the supply especially of illicit drugs. With regard to prevention, the reduction of tobacco consumption forms the top goal. Counseling and treatment services are to be further developed and expanded. Here, quality assurance and development require a permanent effort. The intensification of the cooperation between various institutions involved such as emergency aid, psychosocial counseling but also counseling for young people is to make drug care more effective and efficient. Hereby, the specific needs of female drugs users are to be given special attention.

"A series of legal framework conditions with regard to substitution have already been changed in order to facilitate access to these services and secure the quality of these measures. Together with other drug policy measures these changes are to be evaluated in the future with respect to their effectiveness.

"While the German federal states support the national Addiction and Drug Plan in general, some however have shifted the focus of the plan or do not lend their support to individual initiatives."

(law) "In Germany the Consitutional Court decided in 1994 that prosecution for possession of very small quantities of cannabis might be waived as a rule in cases of occasional personal consumption, small quantities and where there is no danger to others. The federal Länder must provide uniform application of this provision."

(law) "While penalties for drug trafficking increased during the last years, other legal regulations comprise to depenalise drug users partially. Courts or prosecuting attorneys' offices should refrain from prosecution and judges should refrain from penalties, in case only minor guilt would be judged for the offender, only 'insignificant quantities' of drugs for personal use are involved, there is no public interest in prosecution and especially others are not endangered of have been harmed."

(law) "The German government also has intensified the discussion on the legal position of non-medical use (possession and purchase) of cannabis products. The Federal Constitutional Court has requested the Laender already in 1994 to use uniform conditions and limits for the prosecution of an offence when cannabis for personal use is not prosecuted. The 'small amounts' and further legal requirements to stop prosecution are still defined differently in the regulations of the Land justice administrations. For cannabis it varies between 5 and 30 gram, for heroin between 0.5 and 6g. In the practice of courts and public prosecutors nation-wide more than 90% of all criminal procedures with a maximum of 10g cannabis are suspended however."

(law) "At the end of February 2000 German Federal Parliament and Federal Chamber of German Laender agreed upon a law, which is expected to create a safe legal position for drug consumption rooms. §10a of the third amendment of the Narcotic Law (BtMG) contains a catalogue of minimum requirements for rooms, as well as for medical and social care. the first aim is to reduce the risks of drug intake through appropriate framework conditions and legalise staff activities. It has also been clarified that staff is forbidden to actively support drug consumption. When opening drug consumption rooms abstinence-oriented counseling and treatment have to be offered to opiate addicts and arranged if wanted. Each Land government is free to allow drug consumption rooms and to create corresponding rules. It is up to the Land government to pass a decree and fulfill by that requirements for a permission of drug consumption rooms. The mentioned legal procedures have to be installed in the Federal Laender within two years after coming into force of the new decree. This has taken place in Hamburg (April 2000) and in North Rhine-Westphalia (September 2000)."

(syringe exchange) "Sterile syringes can be bought cheaply in pharmacies. If drug users don't have money, the pharmacy is obliged to deliver cost free sterile syringes to them. They can also be handed out or exchanged at syringe machines or at syringe exchange services of the AIDS and drug help services. In some German cities general mobile needle exchange services for intravenous drug users are existing, in Hamburg for example there is a DROB-INN bus nearby the railway station. Also for the prevention of hepatitis in Germany measures to prevent infections are offered to drug addicts and persons at risk."

(law) "In April 2000 the Hamburg Land parliament was the first Federal land to pass the legal basis for drug consumption rooms according to the requirements of the Third Amendment of the Narcotic Law.... In the eight Hamburg drug consumption rooms opiate addicts ought to be motivated to treatment or to substitution aiming at quitting drug use."