To this end, Milena Löbcke, Head of the Health Department, together with the operators of addiction treatment facilities and the Wiesbaden Public Health Department, presented an initial interim report on Tuesday, August 18. 

The use of illegal substances is increasingly posing health and social challenges for cities and municipalities. Changing patterns of use, new psychoactive substances, and diverse target groups require the continuous development of prevention, addiction support, and harm reduction. 

To address these challenges in Wiesbaden, the City Council passed the resolution “Addiction Support and Prevention Instead of Suppression” (Resolution No. 0472) at the end of 2025 to further develop addiction support, prevention, and harm reduction as part of a comprehensive strategy. The resolution encompasses various measures—ranging from improving the data infrastructure and expanding low-threshold support services to strengthening street social work and further developing drug-checking services. 

In recent months, the Department of Health and the Public Health Office have reviewed, prepared, or already initiated numerous measures from a technical perspective. In the process, it became clear that many of the proposed projects require additional personnel and financial resources. 

A key component is the cannabis-checking pilot project, which was carried out jointly from October 2025 to March 2026 by Wiesbaden-based addiction support organizations, the Frankfurt-based association “Basis,” and Wiesbaden clubs, and was evaluated by the Wiesbaden Public Health Department. The goal of the project was to test a low-threshold prevention and harm-reduction program for Wiesbaden’s recreational and nightlife scenes. The project combined substance testing, information sharing, and counseling with training for addiction support staff and club personnel. 

The evaluation shows that participants and project stakeholders rated the program positively. Furthermore, there are indications of positive effects, including increased knowledge among participants and greater visibility for addiction support services. At the same time, the evaluation contains concrete recommendations for the further development of such programs. 

“The interim report on the overall strategy, as well as the results of the evaluation, make it clear that Wiesbaden has dedicated partners and sound professional concepts,” says Health Commissioner Milena Löbcke, adding: “However, in order for us to continue developing addiction support and prevention in a sustainable manner, we also need reliable funding.” Many of the measures outlined in the resolution have been prepared from a technical standpoint—their implementation will depend largely on whether the necessary funds are allocated during the upcoming budget deliberations. 

Löbcke also thanks the partner organizations that participated in the pilot project on cannabis drug checking and hopes that it can continue in a modified form in the future. “We succeeded in engaging hundreds of young people in conversations about addiction and substance use in a low-threshold setting. For many young people, this was their very first contact with addiction support services. This positive experience, much like the established chill-out zone at the Theatrium, can play a key role in encouraging people to seek support more quickly when they need it. The pilot project is thus a successful example of addiction prevention and harm reduction. Wiesbaden must increasingly pursue precisely these approaches.” 

Cathrin Fehl, director of the outpatient clinic for people with addictions at the Caritas Association of Wiesbaden-Rheingau-Taunus e.V., adds: “Prevention in addiction services begins where people can be reached: in everyday life, at school, and on an equal footing. Cannabis drug checking is an important step in modern prevention work in addiction support, helping to identify risks early on, impart knowledge, and prevent harmful use. At the same time, developments surrounding cannabis, nitrous oxide, and other psychoactive substances show how important it is to continuously adapt prevention programs to new patterns of use and current trends. Therefore, existing programs must be sustained and expanded to meet current needs. It is crucial to engage people in their own living environments and offer support where they go about their daily lives. Prevention is most effective when it is low-threshold, realistic, and free of stigma. This also involves reaching young people through channels that are second nature to them. Here, social media and the internet offer opportunities to convey information early on, in a way that is understandable and tailored to the target audience, while simultaneously providing counseling and drawing attention to further sources of help. Sustainable prevention work can only succeed when diverse areas of expertise are brought together. Collaboration with other addiction treatment providers, schools, youth welfare services, and other partners is key to reaching young people early on and in an accessible manner, so as to offer them tailored support. The specialized outpatient clinic focuses on education, trust, and low-threshold support to strengthen those seeking help in their self-determination and empower them to assess risks and prevent harmful substance use as early as possible.” 

Sadly, the importance of prevention and early intervention is also underscored by the current statistics on drug-related deaths, particularly among young people: The latest figures from the federal government clearly show that an increasing number of young people in Germany are dying from illegal drugs: In 2025, the number of drug-related deaths reached a record high of 2,150, with nearly one in four drug-related deaths (23.2 percent) is under 30 years old, and among those under 20, the number of deaths has nearly doubled since 2021. 

Against this backdrop, Ina Buttler, director of the Wiesbaden Addiction Support Center (JJ e.V.), emphasizes: “On behalf of the state capital of Wiesbaden and as part of the overall strategy ‘Addiction Support and Prevention Instead of Suppression,’ the Addiction Support Center stands ready to expand measures in the area of outreach-based, addiction-related street social work, as well as to develop preventive educational programs in schools and youth centers.

The Addiction Prevention Unit at the Wiesbaden Addiction Support Center has built up a cooperative network over many years and already offers various preventive projects at schools, youth centers, kindergartens, group homes, and many other settings. It is urgently necessary to secure existing services and, furthermore, to expand or develop new, needs-based projects for students in upper grades, such as vocational schools and high schools.

Adolescents and young adults with problematic substance use patterns can be reached earlier through tailored services and receive timely, person-centered support through a low-threshold, rapid transition to early intervention and addiction counseling services. By making training for peer educators on the topic of promoting life skills in various practical settings a regular feature—including through digital channels—significantly more professionals can be informed.” 

Especially when it comes to cannabis use—but also regarding alcohol and reflecting on drinking habits—broad public outreach for information and education is a very important tool. Buttler adds: “With regard to the issue of substance use in public spaces, we believe it is urgently necessary to expand the current allocation of hours for addiction-related street social work. People with substance use disorders have become increasingly visible in public spaces in recent years and pose major challenges for the municipality. On behalf of the state capital of Wiesbaden, the Addiction Assistance Center currently offers two hours per week of outreach street social work for this target group. This very limited number of hours is insufficient and needs to be expanded to allow for regular contact, thereby building trust with those affected and facilitating access to further support services.” 

According to Buttler, the goal remains to make contact with those affected who, for various reasons, do not seek out counseling services, to inform them, and to provide person-centered crisis intervention and survival support. In this way, this low-threshold service serves as a bridge that makes the path to the support system faster and easier.