NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2021 Happy 2022! A new year, new opportunities, a new start! Mainline wishes you a very happy and healthy 2022! As for most people and organisations, 2021 was a rough year for Mainline and for the people with and for whom we work. However, we start the new year with fresh courage. We have some new projects to bite firmly into and hope we can get everything done according to plan this year. We are looking forward to it, hope you are too! The Mainline team Mapping drug use and access to services In January 2022, Mainline will start a new European project together with seven partners. Through the Justice programme of the European Commission, Mainline, ISGlobal, University of Ghent, the Rainbow Group Foundation, Fixpunkt, Positive Voice, and Gaia Paris got the chance to map the situation of new migrant groups where it concerns drug use and access to services. We know that migrants who do not have (residence) rights in the EU easily find themselves in a vulnerable position, and a lot of drugs is used especially among the homeless groups. Within this project we investigate the needs of these people for care and harm reduction, we try to actively involve policy makers in the EU in improving this care, and we train service providers to enable them to provide better care to vulnerable migrants who use drugs. Read more Launch of a new study: women who use drugs in South Africa In 2021, Mainliner Rafaela, collaborated with a number of strong women in South Africa on a survey of female drug users. The assessment clearly shows that women who use drugs have an enormously vulnerable position in society and that they are often barely able to meet their basic needs. Women suffer from violence and stigma, are excluded and have limited access to shelter and care. The research report was formally launched on December 14 to a group of 50 people who work with female drug users, or aspire to do so. The report is full of practical recommendations that are relatively easy to implement. All that is needed is sufficient funding, knowledge about the needs of women and their social position and the (political) will to support these women. Read more Launch new modules IDPC e-course Together with IDPC and the Health[E} foundation, Mainline is steadily working on the online e-course on decriminalising drug use. The fourth module was launched in December. This course is free and you can follow the different modules at your own pace. The e-course is currently available in English and French. After modules one to four, three additional modules will follow in the coming months. Read more Information, education and communication materials for South Africa Commissioned by NACOSA in South Africa, Mainline developed information, education and communication (IEC) materials for people who use drugs. Some themes of the materials: overdose, hepatitis, opiate agonist treatment (OAT) and women who use drugs. In addition, we designed stickers and (harm reduction) slogans. Does your organisation need new IEC material? Please contact us. Read more New strategic plan 2022-2026 Mainline has a new strategic plan for the next five years. In the coming years, we will stand once again in favour of the health and rights of people who use drugs. We choose activities that bring us as close as possible to reality on the street: fieldwork and action research, for instance. In addition, we will again be committed in the coming years, to training partner organisations to jointly improve and expand the harm reduction offer for people who use drugs. Read more Worlds of Opiates In December, Mainline's social enterprise, Poppi, presented a pop up exhibition on opiates: Worlds of Opiates. Unfortunately, Amsterdam had to be in lock down halfway through the month and the pop up also had to close its doors. Fortunately, we can easily build this special exhibition in other places. Worlds of Opiates becomes part of Poppi's permanent collection. Poppi continues to build on her ultimate dream: a museum – or rather experience – where people can talk and learn about drugs. A social enterprise where people who use drugs can find a job and whose ultimate profit flows back to the harm reduction field. Do you want to support Poppi? Then follow us on social media or via our newsletter, donate money, become a volunteer or buy a share in our company. Read more You receive this newsletter because you have opted in or you have a relationship with us. Forward this newsletter If you no longer wish to receive our emails, you can unsubscribe here. © Mainline. All rights reserved.