Cocaine crime in Rhineland-Palatinate: Alarming increase in offenses!
Cocaine crime in Rhineland-Palatinate: Alarming increase in offenses!
Rowlay crime shows alarming developments in Rhineland-Palatinate. In 2023, the State Criminal Police Office (LKA) registered 1,432 crimes related to cocaine and crack. This corresponds to an increase of 324 cases compared to the previous year, which corresponds to an increase of 29.2 percent. This worrying development contrasts with a general decline in the total number of drug offenses in the country, which sank by a third.
A look at the numerical distribution of the drug offenses shows that the decline in cannabis offenses is due to legalization in February 2024. The number of registered cannabis offenses fell by more than half. In contrast, the number of amphetamine cases decreased by 12.7 percent, and 3,556 amphetamine in-offs were reported.
increase in cocaine cases
While the number of other drugs remains, cocaine use shows an alarming increase. The majority of registered cocaine cases concerned illicit possessions, with 1,109 cases, which means an increase of 34.1 percent. In addition, 167 cases of trade with cocaine were recorded, an increase of 11.3 percent.
A study by the Koblenz University of Applied Sciences from 2022 occupies high quantities of cocaine in the wastewater from Koblenz and Neuwied. This data correlate with the reports from Can Depré, the head of Caritas Koblenz. It has noticed an increasing need for advice in connection with cocaine since the corona crisis. It is particularly striking that the clientele is mainly made up of men between the ages of 25 and 40 who come from all social classes.
cost of dependency
cocaine is often perceived as affordable, with a street sales price of around 75 euros per gram. This means that trial consumption quickly passes into addiction. The financial consequences can be significant. Those affected report that they can spend up to 10,000 euros within two months. In many cases, the social environment urges the dependencies for advice.
The Barmer health insurance company confirms these trends in their search atlas: In 2023, 1,690 patients with cocaine addiction in Rhineland-Palatinate were treated, which represents an increase of 28 percent compared to 2019. However, the health insurance company estimates that the actual number of those affected is much higher because not all consumers are looking for medical help.
a nationwide phenomenon
The police also report an increase in drug -related deaths that rose to 2,227 in 2023 - an increase of 11.9 percent compared to the previous year. It is particularly striking that the average age group of drug deaths is 41 years and 82.8 percent of these people are men. The increasing spread of mixed intoxications in which 1,479 people died shows the dangers associated with the consumption of different substances.
The developments in Rhineland-Palatinate are therefore part of a nationwide problem that affects not only public health, but also society as a whole. It is urgently needed effective measures and support for those affected to tackle the growing challenges in the field of drug crime.
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