Homelessness and other living condition characteristics of drug users 2003-2007, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands

Drug use, homelessness and nuisance are intertwined. Especially homeless drug users cause nuisance in buying and using drugs on the streets. Until the mid-1990s the city of Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, aimed its policy at reducing drug-related nuisance with mostly repressive measures ; the police shut down open drug scenes and dealing houses. However, the once concentrated nuisance was then spread over the city. In 1996 repressive measures were used in conjunction with care provision for homeless drug users. Drug consumption rooms were opened and supported housing programs were started. In 2000 and 2006 the supported housing program was extended. From 2003, nuisance-causing drug users were forced to cooperate in an individual plan with a mixture of repressive and caring measures.