The ChristenUnie wants the Netherlands to become drug-free in the long term. The party speaks of half-hearted Dutch drug policy, which promotes crime. “After decades of condoning the drug problem, it’s time to take a different approach,” says CU MP Van der Graaf.
She acknowledges that Dutch drug policy cannot be “suddenly” undone, so Van der Graaf is working on a step-by-step plan. The focus must first be on more discouragement, prevention and better assistance. The ChristenUnie says there are 130,000 drug addicts in the Netherlands, 30,000 of whom are in treatment.
Horizon
Van der Graaf does not understand that there are prevention campaigns to discourage alcohol and smoking, but not against the use of drugs. “Hard drugs remain silent in the campaigns,” says Van der Graaf. She will come up with a step-by-step plan for summer, after discussions with experts and social organizations. “Ultimately, the availability of drugs must be limited,” says Van der Graaf. “It’s a dot on the horizon. We have to take a long breath for it.”
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