‘Christiane F’ has child taken into custody as drug habit returns

Berlin — German childcare authorities said Monday they had taken into cusody the 12-year-old son of Christiane Felscherinow, whose tale of drug abuse and prostitution as a 14-year-old in Berlin found an international audience 30 years ago.
"She can no longer fulfil her parental and care duties," a spokeswoman for the Youth Department in Potsdam near Berlin said.

Felscherinow, more commonly known as Christiane F, who is now 46, has never completely recovered from the drug habit that propelled her to renown following the 1979 publication of Christiane F – Wir Kinder von Bahnhof Zoo (We children from the Zoo Station).

The book was subsequently translated into English under the title Christiane F, as well as into several other languages.

The book was filmed under the same title, with Felscherinow acting as an advisor but not herself appearing.

It was shot on location in the more rundown parts of Berlin she frequented at the time and was released in 1981 with a score by David Bowie.

The Potsdam authorities said they were looking into whether the 12-year-old could be looked after by his grandmother. but its mother is to have full visiting rights.

DPA