HealthPolitics

Warning over chemsex support gap after Mainline closure

The Amsterdam Chemsex Consultation and local health and prevention organisations warned the municipality that support for people experiencing problems related to chemsex is under serious pressure following the closure of Stichting Mainline after earlier cuts. They said Mainline had provided low-threshold help through walk-in groups, online consultations and information, and that demand for care remains high while there is insufficient capacity. A Jellinek clinician reported an increase in applications since Mainline stopped.

The organisations called for structural prevention and care. They said that experts, practitioners and city councillors are due to discuss what is needed at an expert meeting, while initiator Kris van der Veen also wants the issue discussed nationally. They noted that the scale of serious incidents is unclear because they are not systematically recorded.