Mainline International

20/03/2026

“Almost as if a parent is passing away”. That's how Ancella Voets, our Head of Knowledge, Learning, and Partnerships, would describe the closure of Mainline.

Ancella was recently interviewed by Drug Reporter about why Mainline is shutting its doors after 35 years. What was Mainline's contribution to harm reduction? What has Ancella learnt from our target populations? And what does the future look like globally for other organisations who stand up for the rights of people who use drugs?

Read the full article here: https://drogriporter.hu/en/almost-as-a-parent-passing-away-interview-with-ancella-voets/

After 15 years of pioneering work in the field of harm reduction, Mainline, a leading Dutch harm reduction organisation, has to close due to budget constraints. We interviewed its executive director, Ancella Voets, on this occasion.

12/03/2026

Our partner, MEWA, has just published their study on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) as an intervention against s*xualised muguka use in Kenya.

Khat, known as muguka in Kenya, is a plant that acts as a natural amphetamine but s*xualised muguka use amongst young people has been associated with increased rates of unprotected s*x and HIV transmission. MEWA's study explores how CBT could be used to reduce the harms associated with problematic muguka use.Want to find out what exactly MEWA discovered during their research? Click here to read the full article:

Effectiveness of A Group Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Intervention for Sexualized Muguka Use Among Adolescents and Youth in Kenya Authors Habil Otanga University of Nairobi, Kenya https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8420-9060 Fatma Jeneby Muslim Education and Welfare Association, Mombasa Jamal Mohamed Musl...

06/03/2026

We have to accept that Mainline will not be able to continue much longer. In the more than 35 years of our existence, we have done incredible work, both in the Netherlands and abroad – on four continents of the globe. We have worked with fantastic people, always rowing upstream to support people who use drugs, in improving their lives and taking back control. We have felt the love wherever we were. And we realise we have been a beacon of hope for many others in the world.

We do not want to kill your hope. Now, more than ever we need to stand with those who are being criminalised and marginalised. Due to a severe and longstanding lack of funding, Mainline as an organisation has to discontinue its activities in the coming months. But as people, we are not giving up. We hope to find other ways and places to continue our contributions and we stay connected with all of you beautiful people.

See also the news on the Dutch public broadcasting (so unfortunately in Dutch): https://nos.nl/artikel/2605108-hulporganisatie-voor-drugsverslaafden-stopt-na-dichtdraaien-subsidiekraan

05/03/2026

Women who use drugs often experience a double stigma – they deal with prejudice because of both their gender and their status as a person that uses drugs. Women often also have to deal with associated issues such as s*xual violence and socio-economic inequality, especially when they are already in a vulnerable position, such as s*x workers.

Next week, on the 8th of March, is International Women's Day, and that's why we are calling on organisations to give extra attention to the problems that women who use drugs face and to keep developing and supporting harm reduction initiatives that are focused on women.

Do you want to know how you can get involved this International Women's Day? Check out: https://www.internationalwomensday.com/

FREE International Women's Day 2026 theme resources -

26/02/2026

Focusing on key populations remains integral to the HIV response. That is the message of amFAR's (The Foundation for AIDs Research) recent issue brief.

Despite major progress in reducing HIV infections, key populations such as men who have s*x with men (MSM) and people who inject drugs remain disproportionately affected. With over half of new infections occurring among key populations and their partners, amFAR highlights the need for targeted prevention efforts to make sure everyone benefits equally from these advancements.

Want to learn more? Check out: https://www.amfar.org/news/focus-on-key-populations-remains-integral-to-the-hiv-response/

A new amfAR report affirms the importance of investing in prevention services that target key populations to decrease new HIV infections

19/02/2026

Chems*x amongst MSM in Asia is a growing phenomenon. Yet we see responses to its potential harms face challenges due to the lack of effective and scaled intervention. So how can we reduce potential harms and support individuals?

'Chems*x in Asia', is now Mainline's brand new webpage, a comprehensive manual that offers a practical toolkit for community-based organisations on how to respond to the specific needs of men who engage in chems*x. With contextual information, intervention models, and external resources, this guide is designed for anyone wants to learn more about chems*x in Asia and how to design, implement, and evaluate their own chems*x intervention. Visit the full page here: https://mainline.nl/en/chems*x-in-asia/

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This comphrehensive manual about chems*x in Asia offers practical tools for community-based organisations to support MSM who have chems*x.

12/02/2026

Do you speak Portuguese? Want to learn more about harm reduction in Brazil?

The harm reduction intervention of ELRD, a collaboration with Mainline and supported by ViiV (and OSF) has been identified as one of the ten most successful HIV prevention experiences in Brazil in 2025, among more than one hundred initiatives led by civil society organizations. Recently, the project ranked eighth nationally in the selection organized by the Department of HIV, Viral Hepatitis, Tuberculosis and STIs (Dathi) of the Ministry of Health. Find out more at https://ideiasus.fiocruz.br/praticas/reducao-de-danos-como-estrategia-para-aumentar-a-adesao-ao-tratamento-do-hiv-e-outras-ist-entre-pessoas-em-alta-vulnerabilidade-usuarias-de-dr**as-na-cidade-do-recife-pe/

A experiência “Redução de Danos como estratégia para aumentar a adesão ao tratamento do HIV e outras IST entre pessoas em alta vulnerabilidade usuárias de dr**as na cidade do Recife” foi desenvolvida pela Escola Livre de Redução de Danos (ELRD), em parceria com a Mainline Foundation (Hol...

05/02/2026

At night, you tell yourself: I’ll stop tomorrow. But then morning comes and you give in right away. How does that happen? To find out, you have to look inside your mind....

All sorts of things happen in your brain that make you crave drugs: its a complex interaction of signals between our brain cells and chemicals such as dopamine and endorphin. Our outreach worker, Has Cornelissen, describes the six main systems that interact in the process of maintaining (and losing) control.

Read the full article here: https://mainline.nl/en/you-want-to-stop-your-mind-doesnt/

22/01/2026

On the 30 of January, LEAP (Law Enforcement Action Partnership) will be hosting another exciting conference in Utrecht, entitled "After Prohibition: How Do We Make the Drug Supply Chain Compliant?".

LEAP is committed to drug regulation, bringing together professionals from policing, media, policy and the public to work on effective, evidence-based solutions that reduce harm and strengthen confidence in the rule of law. The conference will focus on how the Netherlands can move towards a system in which legislation and regulations contribute to public health, the rule of law and safety.

To find out more or to get your tickets now, go to: https://leapnl.nl/en/2025/12/02/after-prohibition-how-do-we-make-the-drug-supply-chain-compliant/

After Prohibition: How Do We Make the Drug Supply Chain Compliant? 02 Dec 30 January 2026, HUB50 Utrecht From repression to regulation — a sober look at production, distribution and consumption BOOK YOUR TICKET NOW During the previous LEAP conference at Utrecht’s HUB50, it became increasingly cl...

08/01/2026

The harm reduction intervention of Free School of Harm Reduction (ELRD), in collaboration with Mainline has been identified as one of the ten most successful HIV prevention approaches in 2025 in Brazil. The project aims to increase access to and uptake of HIV and STI testing and treatment services among marginalised young people living in Recife, particularly those who are living on the streets, those who are part of the LBGTIQ+ community, and those who use drugs.

We congratulate ELRD on this well-deserved praise for their work!

Want to know about ELRD's amazing work? Click here: https://mainline.nl/en/elrds-approach-one-of-most-successful/

The harm reduction programme of the ELRD has been recognized as one of the most successful HIV prevention strategies in Brazil.

01/01/2026

Earlier this year, the Global Fund reported drastic cuts to international development aid that would see them lose $18 billion of funding. It has just been announced that they have since raised $11.34 billion in funding, signally both renewed solidarity for their mission and increasing precarity in governmental support for harm reduction but in a changed world.

The Global Fund is an international financing organisation that aims to eradicate HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The status of the Global Fund is thus especially important to Mainline, as they are not only a partner, but one of the biggest financers of harm reduction in middle- and low-income countries.

Want to know more? Check out: https://www.theglobalfund.org/en/news/2025/2025-11-21-global-fund-partners-demonstrate-unity-resolve-sustain-progress-strengthen-global-health-security/

The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (the Global Fund) held its Eighth Replenishment Summit today in Johannesburg, South Africa, co-hosted by the governments of the Republic of South Africa and the United Kingdom on the margins of the G20 Leaders’ Summit. Despite one of the most...