An addiction therapy center has moved to Mokotów in Warsaw, prompting protests from local residents who are demanding clear operational rules and enhanced safety measures.
Relocation to Mokotów Sparks New Concerns
An addiction therapy center has moved from ul. Kijowska in Praga-Północ to ul. Czerska in Mokotów. This move, ending years of conflict in Praga, has also sparked protests in the new location. Mokotów residents are demanding clear rules for the facility’s operation and increased security in the area.
Past Issues in Praga-Północ
The center, which previously operated at ul. Kijowska 7/3, provided addiction treatment including opioid substitution therapy with methadone. Residents of Praga-Północ had long raised concerns about problems in the immediate vicinity, including people gathering outside, decreased safety, and incidents related to illegal methadon trade and patient robberies.
Local officials emphasized that people came to the center not only from Warsaw but also from outside the city. Praga-Północ District Mayor Gabriela Szustek stated: “We are a small district, many people were treated here from all of Warsaw, but also from all of Poland.” Meanwhile, Vice-Chairman of the Praga-Północ District Council Mariusz Borowski pointed to the problem of removing the drug and its informal trade.
Police Response in New Location
The Warsaw II District Police Command has announced increased preventive supervision in the ul. Czerska area, implemented before the facility began operating in its new location. Uniformed and plainclothes patrols are present in the area, particularly during the center’s operating hours. Police have pledged zero tolerance for drug dealing and profiting from others’ addictions.
Police also emphasized cooperation with the Warsaw City Guard in responding to public order offenses and signals from residents. The Warsaw II District Police Command will also cooperate with the Mokotów District Office, monitoring the situation and implementing appropriate solutions for emerging threats.
Treatment System and Public Concerns
Addiction substitution therapy is part of the healthcare system, but methadon as a strong opioid can attract illegal market interest. The Warsaw debate has returned to the topic of dispersing services and organizing treatment to reduce patient concentration in one facility and decrease social tensions in its vicinity.
Key concerns include organization of admissions (to avoid queues outside), order rules in the immediate area, monitoring, and real cooperation with the city and services in case of reports. Police have stated that every report regarding drug trade, disturbance of public order, or other violations will be treated as a priority.
