Brussels has long had a crack problem. But the extent of the issue has been highlighted by a recent study, which found that the drugs can be bought ‘on every street corner’.
Crack – a smokable variant of cocaine – is 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, especially around Porte de Hal and the Midi station.
A new study by the regional security organisation safe.brussels, along with the Institute for Social Drug Research (ISD) of the University of Ghent (UGent), indicates a significant increase in crack use, partly exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Professionals in the focus groups described the phenomenon as ‘exploding’," safe.brussels experts said.
Rising insecurity
Respondents indicated that cocaine is widely available in Brussels and can be purchased almost anywhere. It is described as ‘ubiquitous’ or ‘commercial’. One respondent claimed that cocaine is easier to find than cannabis. "It's like buying chewing gum in a shop."
But not are more people using the drug, it is growing more prevalent in public spaces, the study highlights. This is particularly the case in stations and parks. Several respondents who use crack said they try to avoid using the drugs in public, but as many users are homeless they often don't have a choice.
Homeless people find shelter in a hallway of the Porte de Namur metro stop in Brussels. Credit: Belga
Frequently cited locations where crack is smoked are Porte de Hal and the North and South (Midi) stations. "Drug use at stations used to be less noticeable," one respondent said. Another noted that the groups of people who use drugs together have also grown.
Due to this public use, the crack problem carries significant social consequences. "Its visibility in the public space leads to feelings of insecurity among citizens and increases the pressure on social and health services. Professionals have noted that support services can no longer meet the basic needs of this vulnerable group. This leads people to focus on short-term solutions, such as the use of intoxicants, to make their situation more bearable."
The drug can also cause issues with aggression, further impacting security in Brussels.
User profiles
The researchers also analysed the human aspect of this issue. Based on a methodology that combines qualitative and quantitative approaches, the study finds that crack use is closely linked to deep-rooted social problems such as homelessness, poverty and limited access to social services.
"Crack use is seen as a symptom of broader socio-economic problems rather than an isolated phenomenon," researchers said. "People who use crack in public are usually very marginalised and live in deep poverty with no prospects. They suffer from multiple vulnerabilities, such as a lack of rights, poverty and (serious) mental and physical health problems."
Most represented among users are vulnerable, single middle-aged men, with an average age of 44. Slightly over half the survey sample (56.7%) was born in Belgium and more than half of them have recently slept on the street.
Reference is made to Belgium's ongoing migrant reception crisis. Due to a shortage of shelter facilities, more and more people who have migrated to Belgium end up on the street. Since autumn 2021, this has resulted in thousands of people being left without a roof over their heads, despite being legally entitled to shelter.
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"I think they are in survival mode," one researcher said. "Crack is often more of a lifeline than the stone you throw to drown yourself."
The researchers and the security organisation therefore recommend several structural solutions to curb the rise in crack use, including investments in housing and social support, a strengthening of healthcare, a more integrated security policy and better monitoring and scientific research.
