Setting the Scene...When BP received a request from the Danish Users Union to speak on the topic of heroin prescribing, we were more than keen to take up the invitation of visiting our peers in the North. We already knew several members of BrugerForeningen (the Danish Users Union) who were great activists from way back, and word about their evolving, expertly functioning union had been spreading for some time. (Pic L: The streets of Copenhagen)
In fact Denmark, the Danes, and in particular, the drug users of BrugerForeningen themselves, are indeed sitting very tall these days and for some time now they have quietly been writing up what has become an important chapter in the metaphoric annals of the drug user history books. For here in Copenhagen, lies one of the proudest achievements for the global drug user movement, without a doubt.
Denmark itself actually takes the shape of 406 islands, (only 78 are inhabited), physically standing out in the landscape of Northern Europe and only loosely surrounded by Sweden, Norway and Germany. Copenhagen, the Danish capital city where the User's Union is located, stands on the most populated peninsula and as a city, pulls in about 1.5million people in a country populated by about 5 million. (Pic- Denmark in relation to Europe)
Nordic drug users however (particularly the Swedish), do travel to Denmark, for the treatment options as much as the drug trade, so much so than the Danish government recently fought back. Swedish addicts no longer gain unfettered access to Denmark’s methadone clinics, and must wait for up to 2 years for a place at a Swedish methadone clinic, unable to access clean needles at pharmacies (only one needle exchange in Sweden) and widely oppressed in a country that believes it can and will become entirely drug free. The Danish User Union recently took 16 Danish activists to meet their sister user union in Sweden, and they swapped information, ideas and support. BrugerForeningen took action where they saw they could and now arrange to send thousands of sterile syringes every month direct to the union, supporting the Swedish users as they continue to fight tooth and nail for more humane treatment.
Copenhagen has the feeling of a civilised city, and certainly it has that reputation. But as I was told, more than once, things are changing in Denmark. The gap between rich and poor has widened through the recent change to conservative governance and Denmarks quality social care system has seen signs of erosion.
It could be all more amazing then that lodged within the sharp ends of an unimaginative, conservative drug policy is a group of active drug users who have turned a part of Copenhagens drug culture into perhaps the best example of a drug user union in the world.
BrugerForeningen began in the early 90’s, but it wasn’t until around 1996 that the seeds for its future were sown. A group of committed, Danish user activists, led at the front by an amazing and enterprising team leader Joergan K, set to
Situated in bright, airy community building, BrugerForeningen occupy a large, comfortable space with a large kitchen, dining and lounge room area - all open access and kept neat as a pin. A long corridor veers off the lounge area and rooms branch off on either side at every chance. Sunny, breezy offices for the core staff to
The User Union is also the home of JKs more recent interest, an opiate museum; glass cabinets capturing drug user paraphernalia from as far back as is possible to obtain, recording all aspects of a primarily opiate, drug culture. (If you have any objects you think could be housed, cared for and should be shown to others, please do contact the Danish User Union. (Pic L: Glass cabinets housing the opiate collection)
Users can change the face of drug strategy; if we believe that somewhere there is the will, and a way to proceed, it is possible to move mountains. In BrugerForeningen, there’s no rules about not being stoned, no one has to leave for being asleep or on the nod. People can talk about drugs all day long and no one cares. Drugs are a part of everyone’s lives and trying to deny or hide the fact is pointless. But people take a great pride in BrugerForeningen, in fact it is a sense of pride so strong, that it is almost tangible. Its reputation is jealously guarded, and for every broom that sweeps across the floors, every sponge that wipes away crumbs, is done with an immense belief and deep appreciation for the ideals held within BrugerForeningen; that active users CAN contribute something useful and important to
society, they can The Syringe Patrol
Nine years ago, Brugerforeningen began a Syringe Patrol. They decided to buy some equipment (bins, rubbish clamps, boots and gloves, yellow jackets with the union name and logo and the words ‘Syringe Patrol’ printed on them). They sent out flyers into the community to let people know they could ring up BrugerForeningen if they noticed any drug related litter in the area, and then went out, 3 volunteers at a time onto the street of Copenhagen. Each person does around 90 minutes, fanned out around the area where most inner city users congregate. The rubbish they pick up is street using standard: syringes, spoons, foil, bags, empty wraps etc. I did notice something rather worrying however, and this was the recent rise in crack smoking – or rather, street users cooking up their own crack using something like paint stripper, an extremely strong smelling solvent which they use to change the coke into rock for smoking. Hopefully users will rinse their rocks of this substance before smoking but I daresay many don’t, or don’t rinse enough...Nasty stuff, no doubt about it, and it will be sad to see Danish users succumb to the terrible health problems that will surely follow. The User Union has its work cut out in terms of education...(Pic_ above: Peter on Syringe Patrol, at work on the streets of Copenhagen)
These days, the Patrol has now won a contract from the council and gets £40,000 per year of unrestricted funds (to spend as they see fit), to continue the service, and this is alongside the council offering a similar service themselves. It dosent take a genius to see that the User Union members can do the job a little better, more regularly and with a eye to learn about the changes occurring in the local drug scene. It is a service any user group anywhere in the world could replicate. BrugerForeningen have a van they take out for the job, and now also have 5 scooters and bicycles. If a volunteer does the patrol regularly he or she is able to borrow a scooter to take home and use as they wish. I would like to thank the guys I went out on Patrol with, and I am really keen to try and see if we can implement such a service at home in London. It is a brilliant plan to help change the negative image of the using community, address our own litter issues, respond to community concerns, and
BrugerForeningen take a team building week away every year, renting a nice place by the sea and train and tackle team building subjects, an invaluable use of resources JK tells me. On computers in the lounge area, a slide show continually shows pictures of their outings and I’m sure this goes a long way towards building such a strong and vital team. I say a team, it is actually more like an extended family. Again I feel many user groups could take a leaf out here and perhaps find the finds to invest more in their teams to attain such valuable outcomes.
Christiania was fascinating. It began as a protest against slums and a lack of housing, so in the 60’s a group of people moved in to a grassy spot in Copenhagen’s old abandoned military area and began to build their own huts. There was a lack of affordable housing in
However, residents do pay tax, have set rules, and try and live out their lives outside the system. Yet as each year passes it seems the Danish government grows ever closer in an effort to encircle
(Pic R: The Danish Drug Users Memorial, a plaque and a paradise apple tree sits in the centre of a using area, the scene of many overdoses).
Although there was perhaps a lack of new and younger heroin users and injectors attending BF, I don't think that really matters. Older users are often the most isolated of all users, usually suffering the most health problems. If BF can provide a safe and functioning space, that feels like an extended family and at the same time manages to lobby, campaign, agitate and activate, then who are we to insist that they must open their doors even wider? It can be an extremely complex effort balancing such an organisation, especially one with no paid staff (except one) - all which means the investment into the volunteers must be enough to sustain and maintain a volunteers belief, respect, and feeling to keep coming back. No mean feat. BF manage to do this, and do it well. It isn't possible for an organisation to be all things to everyone, but BF manages to be most things to many, being as memorable to those members as well.
I would just like to thank everyone who made me feel so at home at BF, JK, Eva, Tom, John, Per, Brian, Eric, Ivan, the girls, Peter, Rose, Nana - everyone, I'm sending you all big hugz and kisses and look forward to coming back again one day soon. Much love Erin xxx
