BELGIUM; WALLONIE
 
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
 
CITADELLE, TOURNAI
 
The centre employs 5 doctors, 2 psychiatrists, 3 social workers, 2 psychologists,
 
Treatment philosophy of this centre is maintenance, harm reduction and rehabilitation. The average dose of methadone prescribed is 30 mg.
 
Currently the centre treats 100 patients.
 
The centre offers:
- medical care
- social assistance
- psychiatric care
- psycho-therapy
 
The centre demands:
- mandatory meetings with social work
- three meetings before indication of social psychomedical treatment
 
Violence or dealing drugs can get patient expelled from treatment.
 
There are possibilities of needle-exchange with pharmacies.
 
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
- references where information can be checked
- dose and period for which methadone is requested
 
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:
Citadelle
Rue de la Citadelle 135
7500 Tournai
Tel +32-69-840454
fax +32-69-234829
Contact person: MICHELLE BRUFFAERTS
Hours of opening: Monday from 14.00 till 17.00 hours; Thursday from 9.00 till 12.00 hours
DESTINATION, DINANT
 
The centre employs 12 doctors, 1 social worker, 1 psychologist, 1 administration.
Treatment philosophy of this centre is harm reduction. The average dose of methadone prescribed is 30 mg.
 
Currently the centre treats 15 patients.
 
The centre offers:
- medical care
- social assistance
- psycho-therapy
- other services
 
The centre demands:
- mandatory meetings
 
Procedures for taking patient for a SHORT period of TIME:
It is not necessary to inform the centre beforehand.
 
When visiting the patient has to bring a letter from his doctor.
There are costs involved, after medical consultation.
 
Procedures for patients who want to enter the programme on a PERMANENT BASIS are not different.
 
Address:
Destination 
Rue Barré 2
5500 Dinant
Phone +32-82-228543
Fax +32-82-228543
Contact person: CARIM CRIVELLARO
Hours of opening: from 8.30 till 17.30 hours
CENTRE ALFA - LIEGE
 
The centre employs 15 people of which 3 doctors, 1 psychiatrist, 5 social workers, 2 educators, 3 administrators and a manager.
The centre only prescribes methadone! Provision is done through pharmacies.
The average dose of methadone prescribed is 50 mg.
Currently there are 60 patients treated at the centre. There is no waiting list.
The treatment philosophy is detoxification, maintenance and harm reduction.
 
The centre offers:
-medical care
-social care
-psychiatric care
-psycho-therapy
-post-care
-collaboration with General Practitioners
-help of family of drug abuser
 
The centre demands:
-insurance papers
-mandatory meetings with social work
-meetings with doctor
 
Violence and non-attendance can get patient expelled from treatment.
 
Procedure for taking in patients for short period of time.
The centre should be informed beforehand by phone, fax or letter.
The information needed is:
-identity of patient
-dose and period for which methadone is required
-references
 
When visiting the patient should bring a letter of his doctor.
 
address:
Centre Alfa
Rue St Denis 4
4000 Liège
Phone: +32-04-223.09.03
Fax: +32-04-223.56.86
Contact: JACQUES VAN RUSSELT
Hours of opening: Monday till Friday from 9.00 till 18.00 hours
SESAME, NAMUR
 
The centre employs 13 professionals of which 2 doctors, 1 psychiatrists, 3 psychologists, 3 social workers, 1 educator, 1 administrator and a co-ordinator.
Treatment philosophy is based upon harm reduction. The average dose of methadone prescribed is 30 mg (at the beginning, changes in dosage depends on individual case/treatment).
Currently the centre treats 50 patients.
There is no maximum duration of treatment and no waiting list.
The centre offers:
- medical care
- social assistance
- psycho-therapy
- street corner work, documentation and advisory services, family groups
- treatment in prisons of Namur and Dinant
 
The centre demands:
- monthly report (social worker/ medical check up)
- urine checks
- mandatory meetings with social work
 
Disrespect of other patients and staff, dealing drugs and violence can get patient expelled from treatment.
Procedures for taking patient for a SHORT TIME (the centre only prescribes, DOES NOT dispense methadone):
The centre should be informed beforehand by phone, fax or letter.
The information necessary is:
- dose and period for which methadone is requested
- references where information can be checked
 
When visiting the patient has to bring a letter from his doctor.
Costs involved are 150.= Bfr for medical consultation, insurance papers required
 
If patients want to enter the programme on a PERMANENT BASIS the procedures are no different.
 
address:
Sesame
Rue de Bruxelles 18
5000 Namur
Phone: +32-81-23.04.40
Fax: +32-81-26.03.15
Contact: ISABELLE PANIER
Hours of opening: Monday till Friday from 9.00 till 17.00 hours
SLAJEF, LIEGE
 
The centre employs 15 professionals of which 1 doctor, 1 psychiatrist, 4 psychologists, 1 social worker, 5 educators, 2 administrators and a manager. 
Treatment philosophy is based upon harm reduction offering detoxification and maintenance programmes. The average dose of methadone prescribed is 40 mg.
Currently the centre treats 40 patients.
There is no maximum duration of treatment and no waiting list.
 
The centre offers:
- medical care
- social assistance
- psychiatric care
- socio-cultural activities/ socio professional rehabilitation
- other medication
- needle exchange
 
The centre demands to respect staff and other clients and the premises.
Disregarding treatment agreement and violence are reasons for re-negotiating treatment contract.

The centre takes patient for a short time who are living on the referent area of the service (st léonard, thier a liège, hors chateâu, centre ville a liège etc.) for the time that is required

(Service territorial: Quartiers Nord - St. Léonard - et Thier à Liège)
 
Address:
Slajef
Rue Maghin 18
4000 Liège
Phone: +32-4-227.02.58
Fax: +32-4-227.02.97
Contact: ALEX NEYBUCH
Hours of opening: Monday till Friday  from 8.30 till 20.30 hours;  Saturday from 9.00 till 16.00 hours
Maison Médical Nord
Place Nord
6000 Charleroi
Phone: +32-71-41.53.24