• The project to create a care center in the 16th arrondissement of Paris for “stabilized” drug addicts who had “already completed a course of care” was suspended in the middle of the campaign for the legislative elections.

  • The LR candidate and mayor of the borough, Francis Szpiner, accuses the presidential majority of interfering in the campaign in favor of his opponent: the macronist Benjamin Haddad.

  • The call for projects is still in progress, as is the consultation with elected officials and residents of the district.

Two days before the second round of the legislative elections, the project to create a treatment center for drug addicts in the 16th arrondissement of Paris invites itself into the campaign.

Announced by the town hall but rejected by the local right, this project “cannot be validated as it stands” notably for lack of “sufficient consultation”, indicated this Thursday the Ministry of Health.

The care of “drug users” is moving away from the beautiful districts of the capital.

A call for projects launched in January by the Ile-de-France regional health agency (ARS) was to designate a site for the reception of 35 medical beds intended for homeless drug addicts.

A center project for “stabilized” consumers

In mid-May, Anne Hidalgo's health assistant, Anne Souyris, announced the choice of the former Chardon-Lagache hospital, proposed by the Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP) and specified that the place would receive “stabilized” crack users who had “already completed a course of treatment”.

Recognizing "that there is a health need for these populations", the ministry considers that "however, as it stands, the project cannot be validated, given the concerns expressed and in the absence of sufficient consultation.

No drug use planned on site

The subject has meanwhile taken a political turn: in early June, local opponent Rudolph Granier (LR) accused the left-wing municipal majority of "corrupting the 16th arrondissement" and "continuing the spread of crack in Paris" - although the structure is not intended for the on-site consumption of narcotics.

In the macronist camp too, the candidate for the legislative elections Benjamin Haddad recently asked the Minister of Health, Brigitte Bourguignon, to postpone this project which, according to him, could “undermine the serenity of the neighborhood”.

All the more so before a tight second round on Sunday against the mayor (LR) of the borough, Francis Szpiner.

" No assistance to the person in danger "

At this stage, “the call for projects is still being examined”, adds the ministry and “no final decision will be taken without consultation with the actors concerned, elected officials and residents being carried out”.

This consultation is also “already in progress”, specified the ARS, which “plans to continue and deepen it”.

An additional delay denounced as "non-assistance to anyone in danger" by Anne Souyris, because it is a question of "very sick people who need to be in a medical situation and we are not going to do it because it is the two days before the legislative elections”.

The Macronist candidate cries victory

Benjamin Haddad, for his part, welcomed on Facebook that the project was "blocked", promising his voters to be "an elected official who (them) will protect (…) with the government to defend our values".

A statement that did not fail to react in the LR camp, reports

Le Monde

: “I am scandalized that the Minister of Health is making himself the electoral agent of Mr. Haddad.

But Mr. Haddad didn't settle anything.

The consultation continues and the project has not disappeared”, declared Francis Szpiner.

The presence in the public space of users of crack – a cheap and very addictive derivative of cocaine – is an extremely sensitive subject for certain neighborhoods in the north-east of Paris, confronted with nuisances, as well as for the town hall and the State, which struggling to agree on sites to solve this problem.

Paris

Paris: The care center for drug addicts worries high school students and residents of the 16th arrondissement

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Crack in Paris: Residents of the Square de la Villette consider the situation "unlivable"

  • Ile-de-France

  • Care

  • Substance addiction

  • Paris

  • Company

  • Health