Mathias Vanden Borre: “Over €850 per shot in Brussels consumption room”

Since opening, the LinkUp drug consumption room in Molenbeek has received an average of 6.5 users per day. According to Brussels MP Mathias Vanden Borre, this stands in stark contrast to the project’s high social and financial cost: “For a project with such a price tag, these figures are completely out of proportion.”

Few users, heavy staffing

Currently, 17.5 full-time equivalents (FTEs) are deployed to run LinkUp: 14 for management, supplemented by a security guard and 2.5 FTEs for social and medical support.

“That means roughly twenty staff members are catering to barely six or seven users a day. That’s completely disproportionate,” says Mathias Vanden Borre. “Since opening, 151 people have visited the site, of whom 96 actually used the services. This project was pushed through without a clear impact assessment and without demonstrating the necessity of such a facility.”

High cost per use

The total cost of the project has now reached €7.8 million. “This is taxpayers’ money that isn’t going towards safety, cleanliness or basic services, but to a project with a very limited reach,” Vanden Borre states.

On an annual basis, the number of users would amount to around 1,300. Staff costs alone are estimated at roughly €1.1 million per year. This brings the operational cost per use to approximately €850.

“In other words, Brussels residents are paying a hefty price for a policy that facilitates drug use. That’s not the kind of policy our city needs,” says Mathias Vanden Borre.

Is this the best use of resources?

According to the responsible ministers, Ahmed Laaouej and Dirk De Smedt, without a consumption room, part of the drug use would take place in public spaces. Mathias Vanden Borre questions that assumption.

“Even if you accept that argument, the question remains whether this is the most efficient use of public funds. With the same budget, you could invest in prevention, rehabilitation programmes and greater street safety.”

Call for reassessment

Mathias Vanden Borre is calling on the Brussels Government to thoroughly reassess the project: “Brussels is under financial pressure, and every euro needs to be spent wisely. Projects with low impact and high costs are simply not sustainable.”