Surge in Public Drug Use Near Railway Tracks
A sharp increase in homeless individuals using drugs in public spaces has been reported near the Rodalies R1 train tracks in La Mina, a neighbourhood in Sant Adrià de Besòs. On Friday midday, observers documented multiple people entering the fenced railway area through gaps to inject drugs out of sight, risking being hit by passing trains. The local council warns the situation has worsened in recent months, particularly during summer, and now exceeds the capacity of the 40,000-resident municipality to manage alone. Mayor Filo Cañete of Sant Adrià de Besòs has formally requested assistance from the Generalitat, citing a growing number of people with drug dependencies now living on the streets. "In the past, they would consume and leave; now, they come, consume, and stay," she said. This shift marks a significant change from previous patterns, where drug use in the area was more transient.
Overdose Emergencies Up 45%
The harm reduction centre REDAN La Mina, operated by Hospital del Mar, confirms a 45% rise in overdose reversals compared to the same months in 2025. Staff report increased activity in the supervised injection room, including more syringe exchanges and medical interventions. Despite this, the centre has reduced its operating hours and available consumption points due to a shortage of trained personnel. Cañete has been requesting extended service hours for three years, noting that current staffing levels limit the facility’s ability to provide consistent care. REDAN acknowledges difficulties in recruiting specialists to supervise consumption safely, though the Department of Health has committed to extending operating hours before the end of 2026.
Healthcare must be combined with social work.
Lack of Shelter and Housing Resources
Sant Adrià lacks a dedicated shelter for homeless people with addiction issues. The municipality offers only 11 places through its Housing First programme. Cañete advocates for a comprehensive care model similar to the Baix Guinardó shelter in Barcelona, a facility created during the pandemic that provides housing, meals, hygiene facilities, and medical support with open access. That site currently holds 45 residents. "We cannot make them disappear; it is a reality that exists, and we must be able to face it, but the city council alone cannot do it," Cañete stated. A meeting is scheduled with the Generalitat’s Departments of Social Rights and Health to address the crisis and prevent displacement of users if evictions proceed on occupied municipal land near the tracks.
Syringe Collection Rises Sharply
Discarded syringes have become more widespread, with more collected by September 2026 than in the entire previous year. While most are found in La Mina, some have appeared in the nearby residential neighbourhood of La Catalana, including in children’s play areas. Cañete attributes the spread to insufficient staffing and hours at REDAN, which limits access and drives outdoor use. According to the council, the presence of syringes in family-oriented spaces is alarming and cannot be normalised. While the Department of Health suggests increased collection may reflect higher service engagement, the local government insists the data point to unmet demand and unsafe public consumption.
Primary sources: Consorci del Barri de la Mina (Barcelona). Reported by elperiodico.com, lavanguardia.com, hospitaldelmar.cat, El Periódico Barcelona.
