2023-05-30 04:00:00
A drug addict, Françoise’s son was imprisoned for several months in Lantin prison. According to her, he was released while still dependent. This mother regrets the lack of follow-up from the prison administration. So what exactly is the situation on the ground?
Françoise is a mother who is both destitute and worried regarding her drug addict son. This resident of Frasnes-lez-Anvaing, in Hainaut, decided to testify via the orange button Alert us in the hope of “to change things”.
Imprisoned for two months for repeated thefts, his son is now released. But since her release, Françoise has had no news. She thinks he’s still addicted to drugs. “For the entourage, it is very difficult to live. When you don’t know where your child is, it’s catastrophic”she says.
I’ve come to a point where I don’t know what to do
Faced with this painful situation, Françoise no longer knows what steps to take, or where to turn. “I’ve come to a point where I don’t know what to do. They closed all the doors to me for more than a year when my son was on the street”she testifies.
This mother denounces a lack of follow-up in Belgium. “For me, a drug addict does not know how to manage his life, it is impossible with the consumptions which they take. So, someone has to be able at a certain moment to say: “Now, it’s stop”. And it is also necessary that the members of the family for their good can direct them”.
For Françoise, her son’s place is in a detox center, but she does not feel listened to. “We are the first to experience it all the same and I assure you that it is far from obvious that on a daily basis and I know that it is unfortunate”. confides with sadness the bruised mother.
A medical consultation within 24 hours in prison
So what regarding on the ground? To find out, we went to Lantin prison. Upon entry, the detainee is seen by a medical service within 24 hours. A possible addiction can be diagnosed clinically. “The doctor will analyze the state of health of the detainee with him and, according to the needs, he will put in place several measures to take charge of this addiction to narcotics. explains Anne De Waele, director of Lantin prison.
Once incarcerated, 50% of prisoners are already addicted to narcotics and 30% continue to be dependent in prison.
Regular medical appointments
To take care of prisoners under addiction, a project has been in place since 2018 in Lantin. “We are going to offer him regular appointments with a psychologist, a nurse and also the prison addictologist.”, lists Emilie Shmits, coordinator of the Macadam pilot project at Lantin prison. In order to help heroin addicts gradually quit, the doctor can prescribe a substitution treatment.
Currently, this project only exists in three prisons in Belgium. There is no question of imposing this follow-up, which is voluntary.
And following liberation?
But what regarding once out of prison? According to a Brussels center specializing in addictions, there are several situations. “Either people call directly because they want to meet a professional to talk regarding addiction, or it’s someone close to them who calls, or it’s the justice system that comes to issue a treatment order.”explains Isabelle Prévot, social worker and assistant to the coordination within the unit of consultation of the medical center Enaden, in Brussels.
But the relatives of a drug addict cannot force him to do so. In this centre, the consultation is therefore also open to families and relatives.
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