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Vision

Drug use is a global social phenomenon. People who use drugs have the same universal rights as any other human being.

However, the consequence of international bans on certain psychoactive substances is that in many countries people who use drugs are criminalised, marginalised and discriminated against.

Mainline stands up for the rights and health of people who use drugs.

Human dignity

All Mainline's activities are based on promoting the safest possible use and thus harm reduction and prevention. Harm reduction offers people the opportunity to take back control of their substance use and their lives within the capabilities that they have.

Harm reduction aims to restore human dignity and improve the quality of life of people who use drugs. 

Meaningful involvement

The experience, motivations and context of people who use substances are the starting point of Mainline's actions. We work according to the principles of meaningful involvement.

A broad harm reduction offer

Mainline promotes evidence-based interventions such as needle and syringe exchange, opiate agonist treatment, HIV care: testing, treating, supporting, combating infectious diseases such as hepatitis B and C, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases, dissemination of information, education and communication materials and overdose prevention and management.

Also for people who do not inject

In addition, Mainline asks attention for marginalised people who do not use opiates but, for example, stimulants such as methamphetamine and cocaine. Or who do not inject their substances, but who swallow, smoke or inhale (via foil), sniff or insert them anally or vaginally (plugging). 

And with attention for a persons' social context

Just like the WHO, Mainline emphasises the importance of a safe political and social climate ('enabling environment'). Mainline promotes rights-affirming approaches and interventions. This includes interventions that focus on:

• Basic necessities: food, clean water, personal hygiene, housing
  
  
• Complete physical and mental health: wound care, care for skin infections and abscesses, foot care, dental care, psychosocial support and access to mental health care, including access to addiction care for people who want to stop or reduce the use of (illicit) substances, and interventions that contribute to personal recovery
  
  
• Increasing safety: drug testing, user areas, access to objective information on safe use, self-monitoring and harm reduction, legal assistance, access to advocacy, encouraging self-organisation

Target audience

Objectives

1. To promote the health and human rights of people who use(d) drugs 
   
   
2. To improve the access to and quality of services and care for people who use drugs – with a focus on harm reduction services
   
   
3. To promote harm reduction as a humane and evidence-based approach 

Strategic Plan 2022-2026 public version

Core Values

Mainline bases its work on these core values and principles:

• Non-moralising – accepting

• Evidence-based – rational

• People-centered - with compassion

• Authentic - creative and original

• Pragmatic – acting

• Society oriented - activist