Brussels uses influencers for campaign against drugs

Brussels’ security agency safe.brussels is using influencers to inform and raise awareness among young people in Brussels about the impact of drug use on the city and safety. The agency launched this new campaign against drugs today/Friday.

The information campaign should show young people in Brussels the dangerous consequences of buying and using drugs. According to safe.brussels, youngsters usually don’t feel addressed by government communication, which is why the agency is now turning to influencers to engage in conversation with young people in Brussels.

The influencers concretely need to educate young people about the impact of drug consumption on safety in the city. Influencers Vidalalexe, Clara_laureys and Younesidrissi hit the streets to engage in conversation with Brussels residents and ask them questions about drugs and drug use. The results of the interviews will be disseminated via TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.

The new campaign is part of the broader regional security strategy in stepping up the fight against drug trafficking and combating the gang violence associated with it. In recent months, the capital has been rocked by several shooting incidents in different parts of the city: in Forest, Saint-Gilles, Schaerbeek, Anderlecht and also in the centre.

"In light of the observation that shootings are increasing in the Brussels-Capital Region, the Region developed a strategy to combat drug trafficking and one of the key elements is to communicate more to raise awareness about the problem among young people,” explained Sophie Lavaux, director-general of safe.brussels and governor for crisis management in the Brussels-Capital Region.

_{Police intervention at Schaerbeek © BELGA PHOTO JAMES ARTHUR GEKIERE}