The admissibility of drug consumption rooms (d.c.r.), which had been controversial for a long time, was decided in the affirmative on 1st April 2000 by a new provision in the Narcotics Act (cf section 10a). It included a catalogue of minimum standards guaranteeing particularly compatibility with the International Narcotic Drugs Legislation. Moreover, the Narcotics Act leaves it to the discretion of the Federal Laender whether or not they wish to permit drug consumption rooms. If so, the Land government has to issue an ordinance based on the Narcotics Act which regulates the details of the licensing procedure and the prerequisites for admission. These ordinances have been issued in six of the 16 Federal Laender. The operators of drug consumption rooms have the task to contact hard-to-reach drug addicts as regularly as possible, provide survival assistance, prevent the typical diseases related to injecting drug use (such as HIV and hepatitis infections), stabilize their health and offer them counselling and treatment to help them quit their illicit activities and drug addiction and to prevent illicit drug trafficking. They have to co-operate closely with all competent authorities and institutions. In 2008, a total of 27 drug consumption rooms with 222 consumption places had been set up in 16 German cities. In cities with drug consumption rooms, the number of drug-related deaths considerably declined. Overall, it can be seen that this low-threshold service reaches the group of hardcore addicts which can then be moved on to other assistance services.