Germany Grapples with 'Alarming' Surge in Hard Drug Use, Seizures Triple in 2024

Authorities Sound Alarm on Escalating Drug Crisis

German authorities have issued a severe warning about a dramatic surge in hard drug use, with law enforcement reporting a more than threefold increase in seizures of new psychoactive substances in 2024. This alarming trend, detailed in recent reports from the Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA), underscores a growing challenge for public health and security across the nation.

Synthetic Narcotics and Cocaine Drive the Increase

The spike in drug activity is largely attributed to the rising availability and consumption of synthetic narcotics and cocaine. Over 1,800 kilograms of new psychoactive substances were confiscated in 2024, a figure that represents more than three times the amount seized in the previous year. Federal Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt stated, 'The numbers for cocaine and synthetic drugs are rising dramatically.' He added that investigators are encountering labs capable of producing 'tons of drugs in just a few weeks,' with smugglers constantly adapting 'new routes, new methods, new brutality.' Specific substances driving this surge include:

• Ketamine, noted as a significant contributor to the rise.
• Potent synthetic opioids such as fentanyl and nitazenes, which are increasingly prevalent in online markets.
• Cocaine and crack, which Federal Drugs Commissioner Hendrik Streeck noted are becoming 'increasingly cheap' and 'more readily available today than ever before.'

In 2024, 37 illegal production sites were identified across Germany, indicating a growing domestic manufacturing capacity for these illicit substances.

Impact on Public Health and Law Enforcement

The escalating drug problem is placing immense strain on Germany's public health infrastructure and law enforcement agencies. Commissioner Streeck warned of an 'alarming' surge in hard drug use and highlighted that addiction support services are 'overstretched and underfunded.' The crisis is particularly affecting younger demographics, with drug-related deaths among individuals under 30 rising by 14 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year. While overall drug-related deaths saw a slight decrease to 2,137 in 2024 (a 4 percent drop from the previous year's record), this figure still represents the second-highest total ever recorded.

Organized Crime and Policy Debates

The BKA's reports emphasize that drug trafficking remains a primary focus for law enforcement in the fight against organized crime. In 2024, authorities conducted 647 investigations into organized crime, with more than 70 percent of these cases having international connections. Minister Dobrindt described organized crime as 'one of the greatest threats to the rule of law.' The debate around drug policy has also intensified, with Minister Dobrindt criticizing the partial legalization of cannabis, calling it 'a lousy law' that 'rather encourages drug consumption' and needs review.