Prague 1 Rejects New Addiction Support Centre at Můstek
According to the district administration, Prague 1 already has the highest density of addiction support services in the entire city
Foto: Jonathan Gonzalez | Unsplash
The city’s plans are facing resistance: Prague 1 has clearly spoken out against another addiction support centre – and warns of additional strain on the historic city centre.
The Prague 1 council has opposed the planned establishment of a new low-threshold addiction centre in the vestibule of the Můstek metro station near Jungmann Square (Jungmannovo náměstí). The project is being pushed forward by the City of Prague.
At their meeting on 10 March, Prague 1 representatives adopted a corresponding resolution in which they explicitly reject the location. The debate was based, among other things, on a security study examining the possible impact on life in the city centre.
Prague 1 already has the highest density of addiction support services in the entire city. In a relatively small area, around 18 programmes exist that focus on prevention, treatment and social work.
Foto: Praha 1
District Mayor Terezie Radoměřská emphasised that support services for people with addiction are fundamentally welcomed. At the same time, however, the quality of life of residents and visitors must be protected. A further concentration of such facilities in the historic centre is therefore not the right approach from the district’s point of view. Instead, the district leadership is calling for a more even distribution of such services across the entire city.
At the same time, the district underlines its own commitment in this area. Funding programmes for prevention and social work are regularly launched. Recently, according to the administration, several hundred thousand crowns were allocated to preventive projects and more than 1.4 million crowns to street outreach programmes.
In addition, the district administration refers to previous experience with similar facilities in the densely populated centre. These have repeatedly led to complaints from residents and business owners – particularly due to a deterioration in public order in the surrounding area. Prague 1 now intends to enter into discussions with the city on alternative solutions that take into account both the needs of the entire city and the situation in the centre.
