Briefing
The main point: The MDRsurvey on 6 November 2026 asks people in Thuringia and Saxony about their direct observations of the drugs market and their views on availability, new substances and risks. The editorial team is seeking additional local information to complement a situation report attracting national attention, which has already been outlined in government and research reports.
The 2025 REITOX Annual Report and analyses by the Federal Criminal Police Office document nationwide shifts in the black market, including more cases of organised production and increased seizures of synthetic substances; the report was published on 4 February 2026. State police crime statistics report differing trends for 2025: Saxony published its 2025 police crime statistics in spring 2026, while Thuringia documents situations and seizures in its own State Criminal Police Office situation reports. Media investigations by Correctiv and Der Spiegel also point to 2,150 fatal drug-related cases in 2025; this figure was reported in summer 2026 and is part of the public debate.
Assessment and consequences: The partial legalisation of cannabis in mid-2024 changed the way police data is recorded; nevertheless, opioids, new synthetic substances and organised cultivation networks remain problem areas, particularly for investigative work, harm reduction and healthcare. For Thuringia and Saxony, this means changes in police statistics, the growing importance of analytical capacity at State Criminal Police Offices and greater demand for local knowledge to help prevent risks.
What the survey can achieve: It complements official figures with personal observations – such as changes in sales locations, visible forms of cultivation or new intoxicating substances in people’s social circles – and may provide leads for targeted investigations and prevention services. However, survey responses should be treated as indicators; reliable conclusions about scale and risk still require combining them with official data, such as police crime statistics, the REITOX report and health reporting data.
The editorial team bases its account on MDR’s announcement of the topic on 6 November 2026, the 2025 REITOX Annual Report and the published state police crime statistics and State Criminal Police Office situation reports for Saxony and Thuringia.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).