Remembrance Day in Halle: For deceased drug users on the market square!

Remembrance Day in Halle: For deceased drug users on the market square!

On July 21, 2025, an important day of remembrance will be held on the market square in Halle (Saale) dedicated to the deceased drug-using people. This event starts at 1 p.m. and is organized by the AG Municipal Addiction Prevention in collaboration with the drobs Halle and the SCHIRM project of the Halleschen Jugendwerkstatt gGmbH. This act is intended to shed light on the realities of life for people with drug addiction and to reduce social prejudices. The event also aims to highlight support options available in Halle and stimulate discussion about drug policy.

The centerpiece of the event is the opening of the exhibition “You’re off work, I’m addicted,” which will be on display in the Ratshof. Until August 1, 2025, visitors can admire 20 posters that are based on anonymous reports from those affected and have been artistically implemented. This initiative is part of the #KonsumRaumGeben campaign. The posters tell stories from people from different backgrounds and aim to promote dialogue about drug use and its effects.

Panel discussion and information stands

Accompanying the exhibition there will be a panel discussion with, among others, Nadine Hilbich from the drobs Halle, Alina Pannkoke from the SCHIRM project and Prof. Dr. med. Oliver Tüscher from the university clinic and the city's addiction coordinator, Katrin Jäger, take part. Various challenges in addiction help as well as the importance of consumption rooms will be discussed. The discussion offers space for exchange about current topics in drug policy and help.

Numerous information stands will also be set up on the market square where those present can find out everything they need to know about the help system in Halle. Preventative measures, advice and information on self-help and harm reduction are provided here. Damage minimization, also known as harm reduction, plays an important role in this context. This approach aims to protect the health and well-being of people who use drugs, for example through needle exchanges or drug consumption rooms, which are now common in many countries.

In Germany, drug policy has been reformed since the 1990s, with a clear focus on harm reduction measures, considered one of the four pillars of German drug policy. The aim is to see people who use drugs not just as “problem cases” but as active participants in the help process. But despite the success of the harm reduction measures, there is also criticism of their implementation, especially with regard to comprehensive offers and their availability.

In this sense, the memorial day in Halle will not only be an honorable look back at those who were lost, but also a platform for an open discussion about the current challenges and the need for reforms in drug policy. Because one thing is clear: the need for an effective and humane approach to the issue of drugs is more urgent than ever. Hall pointer reported that… and also You are Halle shared relevant facts about the event.

Further information on the importance of harm reduction can also be found at AIDS Help Osnabrück, which explains how important these approaches are for society.