Mental health in Belgium: Helping youngsters kick the drug habit

Belgium is a drug hub due to its ports serving as a strategic gateway for the rest of Europe. Antwerp is the cocaine capital of Europe, Brussels is rife with gang turf wars and across the country, the consumption of synthetic products like ketamine is on the rise. The Bulletin looks at how specialised clinics in the capital help young people overcome substance use.

Alcohol and drug use are common experiences for many young people. It is when they start to disrupt daily life that the terms ‘addiction’ or ‘substance abuse’ rear their ugly head. According to Belgium’s scientific institution Sciensano, in 2024 at least one in four young people (15-34) used cannabis, while an increase in laughing gas, cocaine and crack cocaine was recorded in the capital.

“The drug market is constantly evolving, due to increased accessibility of products, emergence of new psychoactive substances and changing patterns of consumption,” Eurotox stated in December 2025.

Experts working with young addicts agree. “Consumption of both alcohol and drugs in Brussels seems to have increased,” says Jonathan de Vylder of  the Plateforme de Bruxelles pour la Santé Mentale (PBSM). “Alcohol remains freely available and narcotics are now very easy to obtain, particularly via social media like TikTok or channels such as Telegram or WhatsApp.”

One factor often cited for the rise in addictions in young people is the Covid crisis: “The isolation and boredom caused by lockdown did not help those who already had a substance use problem and led others to start using,” says de Vylder.

Lockdown “exacerbated the unease felt by many young people, who sought solutions through various forms of substance use,” according to Valérie Deckymyn, director of Forest-based Enaden day centre for addiction sufferers aged under-25. She concurs that synthetic drugs are “very easily available on the dark web, at increasingly affordable prices.”

Substance use affects not only the young person, but their family, friends and social network. Youngsters dependent on any drug need to finance their habit. While risking ‘enabling’ behaviour, parents fear that if the money is not there, dealers will accept other forms of payment… Alternatively their loved one could steal, gamble or get into other trouble to procure the drug.

A burning question for anyone related to or knowing a young person addicted to alcohol or drugs is quite simply, why. For de Vylder, “There are several reasons: the desire to have fun, to experiment, to socialise, to be among people who understand them, who are in the same situation, to escape reality.” Enaden’s Deckmyn says the most common response from users is “to forget my problems”.

Treating addiction problems

A combination of medical and psychotherapeutic approaches are necessary for treating substance use. “There are no miracle solutions,” says de Vylder. “Going cold turkey… without hospitalisation, without follow-up and psychological support or treatment for the withdrawal period rarely works, and even if it does, I doubt how long the person will hold out before starting again.”

Deckmyn explains that “some young people attending the centre can find a balance without medication.” But therapeutic support is always necessary for those at the unit.

The key is to find a suitable solution that meets the individual’s expectations. “This could include follow up by a mobile team, appointments with associations specialising in addictions and support groups including Narcotics Anonymous.”

If Brussels is well equipped in care provision, there is a clear shortage of places in treatment centres. A lack of counsellors and psychiatrists for children and youngsters means there is often a long wait for a consultation.

Finding a place in a hospital mental health unit can take three to six months after an initial call. There are also financial obstacles: subsidised counsellors are often saturated and private therapy costs around €60-70 a session.

Treatment depends on the drug: “Sudden withdrawal from alcohol, GHB [the party drug gamma-hydroxy butyrate] or benzodiazepines can be fatal, so when you want to stop, you should at least consult a general practitioner. For opioids, substitution treatment is possible,” de Vylder says.

Facility options in Brussels

Florence Cordi is a coordinator and counsellor at Saint-Gilles’ la Trace, which offers psychological and social support to addicts through weekly sporting activities and mountain holidays. She said some sufferers appreciated more "open" structures.

For example, the AREA+ clinic for 12-20-year-olds in Uccle exudes a holiday camp feel. Alongside strict timetables and regular appointments with professionals, adolescents also take part in creative, sporting and cultural activities, including days out to the coast or countryside. Visiting hours are generous and home visits are possible after the first weekend.

One original solution is mentoring. De Vylder, as a peer worker, draws on his experience as an ex-addict to work with young people wanting to stop consuming. It is a world away from strict hospital environments with limited visiting hours and scant chance of outside visits: “We meet in parks, in cafés, it does not need to be in the office.”

Up to the individual

The success – or not – of all these options is up to the individual, who may suffer for years before seeking help. Some users are convinced a life-changing event will make them stop. “I will definitely stop using crack cocaine when I have a baby,” says one youngster.

Meanwhile, if a young person is not sure if they want to stop and continues to frequent drug or alcohol users, treatment is unlikely to work. “With all the treatment and aftercare available, there is no point in someone thinking about stopping substance use if they do not plan to change their environment, as the risk of relapse will be inevitable,” points out de Vylder.

“As for the trigger, I do not believe in the ‘when this or that happens, I’ll stop’ approach. If you know you have a problem, why wait until you become a parent, when you can start right away?”

IJBXL Information on mental health services for young people in Brussels (Fr)

PBSM Brussels mental health association (Fr & NL)

CHU Brugmann Cannabis clinic

Epsylon Psychiatric services and clinics

Saint Luc University Hospital Child and juvenile psychiatric services

RéSAd Multidisciplinary network for addiction support (Fr)

Enaden Youth day centre for addiction sufferers (Fr & Nl)

La Trace Support and sporting activities for addiction sufferers  (Fr)

Projet Lama Addiction treatment for the vulnerable (Fr & NL)

Le Pelican Service accompany people with addictions and their families and friends (Fr)

L’Orée Day centre for people suffering from drug, alcohol and medication abuse (Fr & NL) 

Prospective Jeunesse Ixelles-based organisation offering support for young people and their parents/carers

For more information on addiction treatment and mental health services in Belgium: Mental health care in Belgium: National survey plus where to get help and support | The Bulletin

Photos: main image ©Prospective Jeunesse; ©CHU Brugmann Cannabis clinic; ecstasy pills; Les Brigittines ©Projet Lama

The production of this feature was supported by a grant from the Local Innovative Media In Europe Network (LIMENet), co-funded by the European Union.