The popularity of this derivative form of cocaine comes from Paris, says the chief commissioner for the Brussels-Midi police zone, Koen De Brandt. “It is one of the cheapest and most dangerous drugs on the market”.
Transit, a non-medical reception center for drug-dependent adults, estimates that no less than three-quarters of drug users in Brussels take crack. “It has become the most popular drug on our streets” testifies the ASBL.
Fines perceived as ineffective
The dazzling increase in consumption has not escaped the notice of the people of Brussels: between January and October 2022, the transport company Stib received 1,200 reports of drug use in the public space, i.e. 70% more than in last year.
The effects of crack are faster and more intense than those of cocaine, which also makes the substance more addictive. It is also very common among the homeless population.
That the federal government announces that users of hard drugs will be fined 1,000 euros, will hardly change the situation, according to the director of the ASBL Transit. Crack users are so vulnerable that they will not be able to pay such sums, he says.