A column of international perspectives on queer Berlin

In Berlin, drug use sometimes seems ubiquitous, yet it remains deeply stigmatized. This is a city whose reputation, and to a certain extent its economy, is affixed to rave and club culture; an aspect that can’t be divorced from substance use. Think about the tourists who constantly pilgrimage to the city to revel in its paraphernalia or the creatives who nested here to thrive in this field. The city parties hard, and even some of those who work hard, do so with the help of uppers! Berlin is a chosen home for the queers and the rejects who can be their full and freakish selves. It is a space where endless souls modulate their social experiences with substances to foster a sense of connection and closeness with others.

Many sound the alarm on drug use, highlighting the risks and dangers involved. I will not delve into this. A simple Google search will yield endless lists of adverse effects. The party scene has its problems; extreme forms of consumption and numbness, but I refuse to generalize these phenomena or lay the blame on drugs.

It’s ironic that the city’s politicians, and some of its rave institutions themselves, refuse to comprehend this reality, and adjust the structures accordingly. ‘We cannot open the door for drugs’ is not only a common sentiment but also a statement that was made by a CDU politician in the recent past. The conservative party spearheads the war on drugs in Germany. The statement was expressed during a recent debate about cannabis legalization. There is often a hierarchy of substances where alcohol is not considered to carry societal risks, while other drugs are suppressed. It’s not just that I want to normalize drugs, but I believe that their illegalization doesn’t contribute to their eradication, but rather creates situations where consumption is unnecessarily dangerous. Current drug policies have contributed to an increase in drug-related deaths and overdoses and intensified the stigma against people who use drugs and their families. They hinder deeper conversations about harm reduction and safer use.

It is important to remember the colonial roots of drug illegalization, and that Black and Brown peoples have been disproportionately targeted for drug law enforcement and face higher arrest, prosecution and incarceration rates for drug offenses than other communities. The recent opening of drug-checking centers in Berlin is indeed a welcome step, but it feels too little too late. For too long, Berliners have been left to their own device, resorting to club toilets as a lab to carry out experiments on healing and well-being. Berlin’s restrictive environment prevents further research and understanding. It is time for a change.