Open drug use in Zurich’s city centre is increasing again, with the city concentrating police patrols and social work resources in several hotspots as crack cocaine use drives more consumption into public spaces. The authorities say the aim is to prevent the emergence of a new open drug scene, even as the pressure on public spaces becomes more visible.
According to the city of Zurich, visible drug consumption and dealing are being seen more often around Bäckeranlage, the Kasernenareal, platform 3 at the main station, Gessnerallee and Schanzengraben. Officials say larger groups are gathering in these places, creating conflicts and making it harder for others to use the spaces.
For about a month, police have treated the most affected areas in districts 1 and 4 as “hotspots,” stepping up foot patrols, identity checks, and removal orders when public order is disturbed. The city says drug use and dealing in public spaces will not be tolerated.
The Zurich city police have already increased their presence and patrols in the area in recent weeks.
Zurich has already opened three drop-in centres, including supervised consumption spaces and support services. The city says these facilities are operating at full capacity, mainly because of crack and freebase users.
One of the city’s more recent measures is a temporary container village near the barracks area, where people can consume drugs in a protected environment, shower, wash clothes and receive food and drinks. The city says the goal is to reduce harm without allowing a fixed open scene to take hold again.
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Open Drug Use In Zurich City: Crack’s Spread Has Created New Challenges
The renewed pressure comes as crack cocaine use rises in Swiss cities more broadly, forcing authorities to rethink drug policy and public-space management. Experts say Zurich’s long-used harm-reduction model remains important, but crack’s spread has created new challenges that did not exist in the same form during the heroin crisis of the 1990s.
The city argues that a balance of prevention, support and enforcement is necessary to keep public spaces usable while still reaching highly dependent users. Critics and residents, however, are increasingly concerned about visible consumption in central areas and the impact on safety and quality of life.
For Zurich, the current challenge is to contain a growing public-drug scene before it becomes entrenched again, something the city says it is determined not to let happen.
