Department of Criminology, Criminal Law and Social Law

DrugInt: Substance use interventions for applicants for international protection (2023-2025)

Although substance use at population level is generally lower among refugees upon arrival, European studies demonstrate that substance use increases the longer one stays in the European country (EMCDDA, 2022). This may be due to both postmigration factors at the individual (e.g. trauma) and environmental level (e.g. reception conditions), as well as the confrontation with a new user culture.

A European Drugs and Asylum Agency study signals that drug-related incidents appear to be a growing problem in the European reception network for applicants for international protection while the setting is insufficiently equipped to deal with these phenomena (EMCDDA & EUAA, 2023).

Respondents in this study observe an increase in the non-medical use of medication including opioids (e.g. Tramadol©), pregabalin (Lyrica©), buprenorphine (Subutex©) and benzodiazepines such as clonazepam (e.g. Rivotril©) in European reception centres. The study also identifies that professionals in the European reception setting perceive a high need for more knowledge and skills related to drug-related phenomena in reception centres. Other international and European studies also emphasise the need for more attention to drug-related phenomena and interventions in the reception setting (Greene et al., 2022, van Selm et al., 2023).

In Belgium, no studies are available that provide insight into the prevalence of substance use among persons with a refugee background. Research does indicate that persons without the Belgian nationality are underrepresented in residential substance use treatment (De Kock, Blomme et al., 2020). Moreover, Belgian residential substance use treatment is not very accessible for people who do not speak one of the national languages and referrals are difficult (De Kock, 2021, 2022). Too little attention also appears to be paid to migration-related factors in substance use treatment (Pouille et al., 2022).

Fedasil (the federal agency for the reception of asylum applicants) supports the DrugInt research project in 2023-2025 to better understand and address the situation of substance use and related interventions in the Belgian reception setting. This project is carried out as part of a collaboration between two research centres at Ghent University: the Institute for Social Drug Research (ISD) and the Centre for the Social Study of Refugees and Migration (CESSMIR). In early 2024, the research report, conclusions and recommendations were published (in French and in Dutch). An infographic and knowledge clips in French and in Dutch for Fedasil staff were also developed as part of this project.

The DrugInt team received funding for the development of a Basic Drug Training for Fedasil staff in 2024.

 

Annexes