Crack cocaine "available on every street corner" in Brussels, study shows
A study by the regional safety organisation safe.brussels, in collaboration with the Institute for Social Drug Research (ISD) at Ghent University, highlights the growing presence of crack cocaine in Brussels. The study points to a widespread distribution of the drug in the Belgian capital, which can be bought "on every street corner".
Crack is a smokable form of cocaine. A highly addictive and harmful hard drug, it is often smoked by placing it on a strip of aluminium foil and heating it with a lighter. In Brussels, the drug has been on the rise for years. In 2023, up to three quarters of drug users in Brussels were using crack cocaine.
Researchers and the safe.brussels Observatory have now joined forces to better map crack cocaine use in Brussels. The study shows that the drug is available almost everywhere. "It is like buying chewing gum in a shop," says the Observatory.
According to the results of the study, use of the drug continues to rise, with increasing availability and intense cycles of use. The price of crack cocaine is also relatively low, making it accessible to people with limited financial resources.
Linked with social issues
The study further found that crack cocaine use is closely linked to deep-rooted social problems such as homelessness, poverty and limited access to social services. The phenomenon mainly affects vulnerable, single, middle-aged men, many of whom live on the streets. The drug also causes problems with aggression, which affects the safety of Brussels.
To tackle the problem, the researchers recommend structural solutions. Investment in housing and social support, a strengthening of health services, a more integrated security policy and better surveillance are some of the measures that could help.
PHOTO © JOEL SAGET / AFP
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