BELGIUM; BRUXELLES - BRUSSELS

A) Réseaux de Médecins Généralistes
 
Antennes du Projet LAMA
 
The LAMA project was installed in multicultural neighbourhoods of Bruxelles, where treatment facilities for drug abusers were absent. LAMA is not simply a treatment facility it is the meeting point of all people involved in and concerned about drugs in the neighbourhoods: doctors, pharmacies, drug abusers, inhabitants, volunteers...
The five branches of LAMA concretely differ five different activities:
- (Accueil) drop-in for information, advice and help, e.g. logement, euridical help, social affairs, family help etc.
-(la Reunion) each Wednesday between 7pm and 9pm a reunion of people living in the community: (ex-)drug abusers, friends, family members, inhabitants of the neighbourhood, to discus projects to be realised
-(La formation et l'information) Experts from outside are invited to in the context of training and discussion of the "harm reduction principle.
-(L'acces aux soins et la reduction des risques) Help in case of (free) medical care, (medical) insurance, social care, medical investigation, collaboration with post care centres and hospitals, methadone treatment
-(Soutien psychologique et social) social assistance and psycho-therapy/ethno-psychiatry, both in French or Arab.
 
Administration:
Secretariat des Antennes LAMA
4, rue de l'Ermitage
1050 Bruxelles
Phone: +32-(0)2-640.71.44
Fax: +32-(0)2-640.56.48
Every morning, except on Wednesday
Antenne LAMA Molenbeek
Accueil et Consultations
16, rue Ransfort
1080 Molenbeek
Phone: +32-2-411.51.61
 
Permanence sociale sans rendez-vous
contact: Mme A. GILON
substitution treatment on spot:
Monday - Friday 14.00-17.00 (accueil)
Monday /Wednesday /Friday from 17.00-19.00 (consultation)
Antenne LAMA St Josse
 
At the Saint Josse branch of LAMA six people are employed: a doctor, a psychiatrist, a social assistant, an educator, an administrator and a volunteer.
The treatment philosophy is based on maintenance and harm reduction. Other ways of treatment are offered too. Currently there are 15 people in treatment. There is no waiting list.
 
The centre offers:
-medical care
-social assistance
-psychiatric care
-psycho-therapy
 
the centre demands:
-urine check
-mandatory meetings with social work (at beginning of treatment)
-methadone has to be paid at pharmacy (ca. 150.= FB/week)
-for people who have access to the Belgium health system: welfare insurance (aide sociale) to pay treatment has to be arranged
-for people with no access to Belgian health system: medical consult has to be paid for directly to the doctor (ca. 200.= FB)
 
Violence, threats or take-off during treatment can get patient expelled of treatment.
 
procedure for taking patients in:
 
The centre has not necessarily to be informed of a patients visit beforehand.
When visiting the patient has to deliver following information:
- identity
- treatment history
- dose and period for which methadone provision is requested
- references where information can be checked
 
Antenne LAMA Saint Josse
49, rue Verbist
1210 Saint-Josse
Phone: +32-2-223.33.62
Fax: +32-2-640.56.48
Contact person: A.F. RAEDEMAEKER
Hours of openings: Monday/Wednesday/Friday: from 14.00 till 17.00
Antennes LAMA Bruxelles-Villes
Accueil et Consultations
22, rue de Gravelines
1040 Bruxelles
Phone: +32-2-230.99.98
Contact: Dr. Mme A.F. RAEDEMAEKER
Hours of opening: Tuesday 13.30-15.30 / Thursday 16.00-18.00
Espace P - Accueil et Permanence
for prostitutes only! - substitution on spot
The following information only concerns treatment of addicted clients of Espace P. The centre has much more activities like social help, prevention activities HIV/Aids and STD, a newsletter, eudicial information and legal advice amongst others.
 
The centre employs 7 professionals of which 1 doctor (7h/week), 1 psychiatrist (4h/week from LAMA), 1 psychologist, 1 social worker, 1 part time educator, 1 philosopher (2h/week), 1 administrator and a manager. 
Treatment philosophy for drug addicted clients is based upon harm reduction offering detoxification and maintenance programmes. The average dose of methadone prescribed is 2 -120 mg.
Currently the centre treats 13 addicted clients.
There is no maximum duration of treatment and no waiting list.
 
The centre offers to addicted clients:
- medical care
- social assistance
- psychiatric care
 
Violence and non-attendance for several days can get patient expelled from methadone treatment.
If patient want to enter the programme on a permanent basis she has to contact the centre.
Procedures for taking patient (has to be a prostitute!) for a short time:
The centre should be informed beforehand by phone, letter or referred by an other medical institution.
The information necessary are identity, dose and period for which methadone is requested.
When visiting the patient has to bring a letter from his doctor.
Normally the costs involved are 250.= Bfr.
 
address:
Espace P
116, Rue de Plantes
1030 Bruxelles/Schaerbeek
Phone/fax: +32-2-219.98.74
Contact: CÉCILE CHERONT
Hours of opening: 9.00-17.00, Fridays until 00.30.
Antenne LAMA - Accueil et Consultations
for SDF addicts and for those excluded of Health Care only!
substitution on spot
Medecins Sans Frontières
46, Rue d'Artois
1000 Bruxelles
Phone: +32-2-513.25.79
Hours of opening: Monday from 10.00 till 12.00 hours; Wednesday from 14.00 till 16.00 hours/ Friday from 22.00 till 0.30 hours
R.A.T. (Réseau d'aide aux toxicomanes)
Traitment ambulatoires
Rue de Montenegro. 67
1060 Saint-Gilles
Phone: +32-2-5348741
 
Obligatory to make an appointment
Substitution on spot
Contact: Dr. REMY
Groupes ALTO - SSMG
 

ALTO is a group of about 600 general practitioners giving care to drug users in the French part of Belgium. More than 3000 patients are receiving a substitution treatment (basically methadone) from their GP.

When it was founded in 1992, the first meaning of ALTO was to propose a treatment to all the drug users requesting one. Because of the proximity and the disposability of the GP's, this first objective was rapidly aimed. All the doctors prescribing methadone could receive a free information about this prescription and they could exchange their experience of the multiple sides of the care to drug users. Doctors were discovering a lot of pathologies associated with the drug use. The treatment and the prevention of these pathologies became then one of our first preoccupations.

With the success of such a programme and with the experience of each doctors, we started a few researches about aids among drug users, the parentality of those patients and over the prevention and the treatment of the hepatitis. We recently realised an assessment of our work.

In conclusion, the GP's of the French community of Belgium offer the most accessible and the cheapest care to drug users and with the continuing training given by ALTO, it has become one of the most effective care

Central Office:
Rue de Suisse, 8
1060 Bruxelles
Tel. +32 (0)2 533.09.80
Fax. +32 (0)2 533.09.90
e-mail : ssmg@ssmg.be
website:www.alto.ssmg.be
Specialised Centres / Ambulant treatment with substitution
 
1. Projet LAMA Ixelles
The centre has 28 employees: 7 doctors, 3 nurses, 2 psychiatrists, 5 psychologists, 5 social workers, e educators, 2 administrators and one manager.
treatment philosophy is based on maintenance and harm reduction. The average dose of methadone prescribed is 80 mg.
Currently there are 250 patients in treatment. There is no waiting list.
 
the centre offers;
-medical care
-social care
-psychiatric care
-psycho-therapy
-apartments for re-socialisation purpose
-collaboration with pharmacies and General Practitioners
 
The centre demands regular meetings with medico-psychological consultant.
Violence can get a patient expelled from treatment.
 
Procedures for taking in a patient:
on a permanent basis: an extended medical report is needed (pathologic, psychiatric).
 
for a short period of time: the centre needs to be informed beforehand, preferably by fax, otherwise by letter.
The fax should state:
-identity of patient
-identity of doctor or centre which has treated the patient while he/she leaves for Bruxelles
-dose and period for which methadone is requested
-references where information can be checked
 
Projet LAMA
211, rue Americaine
1050 Ixelles
Phone: +32-(0)2-640.50.20
Fax: +32-(0)2-648.80.68
Appointment obligatory!
Contact person: Dr. J.P. JACQUES
MIDRASH SCHAERBEEK
 
The centre employs 1 doctor, 1 psychiatrist, 1 social worker, 3 administration, 4 others.
Treatment philosophy of this centre is maintenance, harm reduction. The average dose of methadone prescribed is 54 mg.
 
Currently the centre treats 35 patients.
 
The centre offers:
- medical care
- social assistance
- psychiatric care
- psycho-therapy
- other services
 
The centre demands:
- complete treatment without interruption
 
Violence can get patient expelled from treatment.
Target group: young and/or future addicted parents with their children, adolescents and pregnant women..
Procedures for taking patient for a SHORT period of TIME:
The centre should be informed beforehand by phone, fax or letter.
The information necessary is:
- identity
- treatment history
- dose and period for which methadone is requested
- references where information can be checked
 
When visiting the patient does not have to bring a letter from his doctor. There are costs involved.
 
Procedures for patients who want to enter the programme on a PERMANENT BASIS are not different.
Address:
Midrash
Ave. A. Girand 121
1030 Schaerbeek
Phone: +32-2-245.4908
Fax: +32-2-245.3964
Contact person: HUGO STÉPHANIE
 
Hours of opening: from 9.30 till 17.30 hours
Consultation du Centre Medical ENADEN
rue Saint-Bernard, 114
1060 Saint-Gilles
Phone: +32-2-4656390
Also crisis centre
Service Ambulatoire de La Pièce
 
The centre employs professionals of which 0.5 psychiatrist, 2.5 social workers and 1 assistant.
Treatment philosophy is based upon harm reduction offering maintenance programs. The average dose of methadone prescribed is 89 mg.
Currently the centre treats 20 patients.
There is no maximum duration of treatment and no waiting list.
 
The centre offers:
- social assistance
- psychiatric care
- psycho-therapy
 
The centre demands:
- co-operation concerning therapy and prescription
Violence can get patients expelled from treatment.
 
Procedures for taking patients for a SHORT TIME:
The centre should be informed beforehand by phone, letter or fax.
The information necessary is:
- identity
- treatment history
- dose and period for which methadone is requested
- references where information can be checked
-. arrangements for the payment of the consultations
 
When visiting the patient has to bring a letter from his doctor.
The costs are 1700 Fr.B.
 
If patients want to enter the program on a PERMANENT BASIS the procedures are different in the way that the payment is negotiable.
 
Address:
Service Ambulatoire de La Pièce
rue Hotel des Monnaies, 71
1060 Saint-Gilles
Phone :+32-2-534 00 86
Fax :+32-2-543 03 49
Contact person :FRANÇOIS BAUFAY, FRANÇOISE HONHON and ASTRID LIONNEZ
Opening hours : from 10.00 till 16.00 hours
Free - Clinic
Chaussee de Wavre, 154 a
1050 Ixelles
Phone: +32-2-512.13.14
 
Specialised Centres (Hospitals) / Residential treatment with substitution.
 
C.H.U. Saint-Pierre
rue Haute, 290
1000 Bruxelles
Phone: +32-2-5354456
Contact: Dr. ZOMBEK
Crisis centre (Service Urgence) phone: +32-2-5354051
C.H.U. Brugman
Place A. Van Gehuchten 4
1000 Bruxelles
Phone: +32-2-4772706
Institut Neurologique Belge - Addictions
 
8 people work at the INB: 5 psychiatrists, a psychologist, a social worker and an administrator.
The treatment philosophy is detoxification maintenance and psychiatric and psychological post care. The average dose of methadone prescribed is 50 mg.
Currently there are more than 150 patients in treatment. There is a waiting list, which varies in length.
 
The centre offers:
-social care
-psychiatric care
-psycho-therapy
 
The demands of the centre depend on every individual patients treatment plan.
Violence can get a patient expelled from treatment.
 
Procedures for taking in a patient on a permanent basis are of a low-threshold manner.
For a short period of time the centre should be informed beforehand by fax or phone.
The information necessary are:
-identity of patient
-dose and period of time for which methadone is requested
-references where information can be checked
 
address:
IND Addictions
Rue de Linthout, 150
1040 Bruxelles (Etterbeek)
Phone: +32-2-737.85.60
Fax: +32-2-737.85.69
Contact: VINCENT JOACHIM, psychologist
E-mail: eOACHIM@APSY.UCL.AC.BE
Hours of opening: from 14.00 till 17.30 hours
Hopital Erasme - Service de Psychiatrie
route de Lennik 808
1070 Anderlecht
Phone +32-2-526.31.11
Clinique Fond Roy
Ave. Jacques Pastur 43
1180 Uccle
Phone: +32-2-375.44.93
Clinique Sanatia Botanique
Rue du Moulin, 27
1210 Saint-Josse
Phone: +32-2-219.03.60