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 at MDHG. However, I haven’t encountered anyone who has actually seen nitazenes, even though the alarming media reports are well known.

Not long ago, I received similar questions about the rise of oxycodone (‘twice as strong as morphine!’), and before that, it was fentanyl (‘100 times stronger than morphine!’). There was also a time when people worried about the drug krokodil (‘three times stronger than heroin’.)

The reality is that as long as politicians believe the “war on drugs” can positively impact drug markets, we are at their mercy. If we were to regulate these markets, it would be easier to reduce the demand for the most harmful substances. There are often shifts in drug markets, such as with GHB and ketamine, which do not improve the situation but do not prevent new drugs like nitazenes from emerging.

Am I concerned? Not really. Well, maybe a bit: there is fear that nitazenes could be mixed with other illegal opioids, potentially leading to dangerous dosages. I would not recommend using the strongest painkillers, as getting off them can be quite difficult. At the same time, I don’t care what drugs our members use because I know that so-called addiction (bonding with the substance, as Professor Peter Cohen always clearly states) is not solely caused by the drug itself. Most regular drug users engage in self-medication to cope with their struggles and the pain from their past.

Many MDHG members have dealt with various forms of assistance for years, often starting in their youth. Issues like poverty, domestic violence, and sexual abuse have been compounded by numerous organizations telling them how to live their lives without providing real solutions. It’s understandable that painkillers, in any form, become a way to cope with daily life. People often disregard authority figures who warn them about new drugs.

In October, the Jeugdautoriteit (Youth Authority) published a report stating that problems in youth care have grown rather than diminished over the past year. This report highlighted increasing issues that are truly heartbreaking, particularly for children in unsafe situations, as well as the helplessness of assisting organizations.

This is the situation that will lead to more drug users seeking our help, regardless of the particular drug the media is currently warning about.

Dennis Lahey

Director of the Drug Users’ Association MDHG