Drugs in prison

Fifty to sixty percent of Dutch detainees use drugs or has done so in the past. Drug use often continues within detention facilities. Infectious diseases can be transferred anywhere but pose more of a risk in prison.

Monitoring

Direct contact with substance users enables outreach workers from Mainline to point out and analyse new developments in different user groups. Mainline also conducts small-scale research to monitor the needs of different user groups, for which outreach workers gather data in the field.


Outreach work in Amsterdam

Amsterdam remains an important location for Mainline’s activities. There is a high prevalence of HIV and HCV among substance users in the capital. Local drug scenes continue to exist in the Bijlmer district and city centre. Also streetwalkers are a group in need of special attention since they are hard to reach due to strict law enforcement.
 
Outreach work is carried out in shelters, consumption rooms the street and penitentiaries. Mainline also seeks contact with groups of users that are not covered by regular healthcare. This also provides insights into high-risk behaviour of these users.

These activities are supplementary to other care and treatment that is offered, and are conducted independently of the Municipal Health Services (GGD), addiction treatment services and other institutes.