Brussels (The Brussels Morning Newspaper): GATE Brussels first supervised drug consumption room opened in May 2022 to provide a safe space for drug users, reduce public nuisance and connect people to social and health services.
GATE is an area managed by a non-profit organization named Transit. It’s a facility where people can use drugs located between the Bruxelles-Midi train station. A place known for a lot of drug related activity in Brussels and the downtown area. It opened in May 2022 to help deal with the rise in drug use in public spaces.
How Does GATE Impact Society and drug use in Brussels?
At GATE drug users could use their own drugs by sniffing, snorting, injecting or inhaling in a clean area while being supervised by trained medical staff that provided sterile syringes. According to resources They also gave advice on safer drug practices and helped out when theres overdose.
When places like GATE have the backing of the city of Brussels supervised drug consumption services can save lives. People who use drugs have mentioned that they tend to use less when they’re at the center compared to their usual consumption. These supervised places not only help individuals but also make a big difference in neighborhoods where drug use was visible in public areas before. Since May 2022 over 1000 people have used the center and half of them are homeless.
It has been reported that GATE has avoided 16,000 drug uses on the streets. If they did not have the option many users at the center would have used in the street anyway said spokesperson . The People of Brussels do not mind the centre but prefer it not to be in their neighborhood.
