The number of drug-related deaths in Germany has risen again.
Last year, 1,826 people died from the use of illegal drugs, 15.5 percent more than in the previous year, as the federal government's drug commissioner, Burkhard Blienert (SPD), announced on Monday in Berlin.
In 2020, 1581 drug deaths were registered.
This is the fourth year in a row that the number has increased.
As in previous years, the main cause of death was the use of opioids such as heroin and opiates or their use in combination with other substances.
A heroin overdose killed 195 people in 2021, 50 percent more than in the previous year.
As a result of opioid substitution drug use, 88 people died - an increase of 167 percent.
Substitution therapy is the treatment of opioid-dependent patients with substitute substances.
The drug commissioner called the numbers "shocking".
"It must not be that people who are severely addicted are not reached at all and are left alone with their illness and its social consequences," explained Blienert.
There can be no continuation of this in German drug policy.
Help and support, treatment and advice should reach people faster and more directly.
Blienert now wants to hold talks with the federal states quickly.
Amphetamine-related poisoning increased by 149 percent to 92 deaths.
Deaths related to methamphetamine, cocaine and crack also increased significantly.