magazine for drug users and anyone involved with drugs and drug policy
Spuit 11 English Translations
Magazine of the Belangenvereniging Druggebruikers MDHG
ARTICLES SPUIT 11 WINTER '24/'25
‘Drug consumption rooms are actually good for the neighborhood’
It is a stark difference from what is most often believed, but drug consumption rooms actually lead to an increase in property prices in the area. Economists Hans Koster and Sofia Franco come to this surprising conclusion after extensive research. “The objective data...
Plea for Naloxone
Although the Netherlands has relatively few opioid overdoses in comparison to other countries, in recent years there has been a slight increase in deaths caused by these substances. In 2014, 40 people died from opioid overdoses; in 2019, that number rose to 124; and...
Nitazenes
Recently, I've been asked if I'm worried about nitazenes, a new type of drug that is emerging in various countries and may appear in the Netherlands as well. These drugs are said to be 50 times stronger than heroin, which could lead to an influx of people seeking help...
Methadone Users Unfairly Excluded from Traffic and Employment
dathijs, a 23-year-old man, was doing well. He had overcome substance abuse, was even reducing his prescribed methadone dosage, and enjoyed a structured working day repairing steam locomotives in a workshop. However, everything changed when he had to fill out a form...
Leo’s Phone
On bus 37 to the public health service (GGD), I feel something under me as I sit down. I stand up to find a brand-new iPhone on my seat. It's not really my type of phone, but it must be an expensive item for the young girl in the photo who appears when I touch the...
Kim’s photos
Last year, my cousin Steven passed away. Like many visitors to MDHG, he used substances that are harmful to health. Sadly, this did not solve his problems. On the contrary, Steven lived to be only 41 years old... When I saw stones in MDHG's window with the names of...
Edwin lost his home by being a victim
It was supposed to be a normal evening watching soccer—friends over, a plate of bami on my lap, watching my favorite team play again. Around 7 p.m., the doorbell rang. I opened the door and saw two familiar faces, along with a friend they had brought along, who was,...
Behind secured doors: A look into supported Living
Supported living claims to provide a safe and stable environment for its residents, according to the website of the neighborhood teams. “The goal of supported living is to create calm and stability.” As an intern at MDHG, I finally had the chance to see one of these...
Amnesty (finally) turns against the “War on Drugs”
For many years, Amnesty International has been addressing numerous human rights violations caused by the war on drugs, without truly tackling the core of the problem. This year, the Time for Change report finally directly addressed this issue, rejecting the war on...
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