In Croatia, from November 15 to December 15, the Addiction Awareness Month is observed. This initiative aims to raise awareness about addiction and promote activities to reduce both the demand for and availability of illegal substances. It also focuses on improving health and safety while reducing the risks and harms associated with addiction. According to research by the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Croatia, one in four Croatian citizens has used an illegal drug at least once in their life. The total number of people treated for drug addiction, as well as those who sought treatment for the first time, increased to 6,078 in 2022. Experimentation begins around the age of 16, and the average age of those seeking treatment is 29. Wastewater monitoring by the Sewage analysis CORe group — Europe in collaboration with European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) has shown an increase in cocaine levels in Zagreb, indicating a consumption rate of 567.95 mg per thousand inhabitants per day.
Recently, another study on psychoactive substance use in Croatia was conducted by the Tripsitter team from the Terra Association. They found that the most consumed illegal substance is cannabis, while alcohol, though legal, ranks first. Following these are amphetamines (speed), cocaine, and ecstasy/MDMA. The availability of cocaine, and consequently its consumption, is drastically increasing both in Europe and in Croatia. From their high school volunteers, Tripsitters received alarming information that cocaine consumption is already present in high schools, with some high school students acting as cocaine dealers. In addition to cocaine, they warn of the growing danger of synthetic cannabinoids, known as “sprayed weed,” such as galaxy or spice. These are becoming increasingly popular among young people who consciously consume them because they are more available, cheaper, and have a stronger effect, without considering the serious consequences, such as the increasing cases of psychosis and schizophrenia.
This alarming trend of substance consumption in Croatia, especially among the youngest, requires more initiatives focused on harm reduction. The Terra association has been active since 2001, serving marginalized groups, and started as a harm reduction program for heroin addicts. The association has also created a drop-in center where they ran a needle exchange program, allowing heroin addicts to exchange their needles for sterile ones, shower, wash their clothes, cook something, and spend time talking to volunteers.
It was here that Maša Serdarević (28) and Andrej Rupnik (27), two young kinesiologists who support healthy living and sports but also love fun, going out, and festivals, volunteered. This blend of love for going out and their volunteering experience led them to start their own harm reduction program called Tripsitters.
How did the idea for Tripsitters come about, and what made you start such a program?
Maša: I worked in the drop-in center for 3 years, and then in 2018, Regeneracija, an organization from Serbia, came to our counseling center and presented the harm reduction program they run in Serbia. We came up with the idea to start something similar in Croatia because there was nothing like it. There are more and more drugs, and new, unresearched psychoactive substances are constantly emerging. It’s in our interest to reduce the dangers as much as possible.
Andrej: While I was already involved in similar projects at the association, I wasn’t particularly drawn to the needle exchange program because it was targeted at older addicts. Although this program is necessary, we wanted to introduce something innovative for young people – our peers. We looked at how it’s done abroad, collected ideas, and thought it would be great to have it in our country.
How do Tripsitters operate, where can you be found, and what exactly do you do?
We have stations at clubs and festivals in Rijeka, and since last year, also in Zagreb. In Rijeka, we have been present in nearly all operational clubs, including Manual, Pogon, Crkva, Nemo, Rakija, and Beertija. In Zagreb, we are mostly called to AKC Attack, and are participating every month at the Underground d.o.o. collective events, having also collaborated with Klubska Scena. As for festivals, this season we were at Defected Croatia, Terminal V, Escape the city, and Trk u Šumu.
When we are on-site, either at clubs or festivals, we walk around to check on attendees who may be feeling unwell. We distribute educational leaflets on substances, provide straws to reduce the risk of Hepatitis B transmission and offer glucose, magnesium, and vitamin candies. We also provide water (when permitted by event organizers), electrolytes, earplugs, condoms, lubricants, chewing gum, fruit, band-aids, and sometimes melatonin pills. In short, we bring everything that can aid in harm reduction. Of course, we are also available for conversations with anyone who needs support.
We only arrange festivals if the organizers agree to our stands, and while it’s more challenging to implement this in clubs, it’s essential at festivals. During the summer, under high temperatures and with many substances circulating, we often deal with multiple cases. This year, at Terminal V, due to the intense heat, we had 5-10 cases every evening. We had our stand right next to the first aid team, just as we wanted it to be. Visitors in serious distress would first approach the first aid team, who would assess whether it was a life-threatening situation. If not, they would direct them to us. We would then offer water, vitamins, and help cool them down with ice, providing a space for conversation as well. Many visitors were from countries with different climates, which made the heat even more overwhelming. Some were on the verge of heatstroke.
How do you reach out to young people, and have you noticed any changes in society’s approach to addiction and mental health?
We’ve noticed a significant difference compared to when we were growing up, especially regarding addiction and mental health awareness. More young people are visiting psychologists and openly discussing substance use. High schools have even invited us for educational talks on substances, which we think is a huge step forward. We work with classes where substance use is present, and we have regular collaborations with one school in Rijeka. However, in Zagreb, we haven’t yet established such partnerships. Students are generally interested, but not always open, probably due to the presence of a responsible person in the classroom during the talks. When we ask them anonymously via an app if they’ve seen substance use around them, they list a lot of things, so they open up when it’s anonymous and online.
That’s why we are also active on Instagram, where we regularly share advice and warnings. We have sections like ‘Ask a Psychologist’ and ‘Ask a Tripsitter,’ where we receive many questions, and some people share their personal stories, which we then post anonymously with their consent. If needed, we connect individuals with our psychologists who offer free psychological support. The association also has an open “Slon” phone, where people can anonymously ask for help. We also provide online counseling via Zoom for those who aren’t in Rijeka. We want to be a link to psychologists and help more young people know where to seek psychological help.
Where do you get your information from when providing advice?
When giving advice, we use the psychologists from our association, consult doctors, and are networked with all the relevant fields. Information is also gathered from educational programs attended in Croatia, as well as online training sessions abroad. When someone asks us a specific question and expresses interest in a certain topic, we try to research it thoroughly and find as much information as possible to back up what we say. We read all European reports on substances, water analyses, and since we are funded by the Ministry of Health, we are in constant contact with them. They have information and meetings where knowledge is exchanged across various fields. Recently, we contributed to writing guidelines for safer night environments as part of a new program initiated by the Ministry of Health. Professionals from different disciplines were involved, and we were honored to be recognized and included.
You are currently working on introducing drug-checking in Croatia, can you tell us more about that project?
Drug checking is a harm reduction service that analyzes drug samples to determine their composition, purity, and any potentially dangerous impurities. Drug checking is currently prohibited in Croatia, not by law, but we have not received permission for its implementation. To introduce it, guidelines need to be made in collaboration with the Ministry of the Interior (MUP) and the Ministry of Health. We have already written the project, created a campaign, and are just waiting for the green light to move forward. The Ministry of Health is also supportive, as it would allow for a better understanding of the risks and more effective protection of public health. We are part of the early warning system, but at this stage, we can only issue warnings after a fatal incident. All the information we share can’t be as effective if the substance contains something a person isn’t prepared for. In Ljubljana, over the past five years, since drug-checking was introduced, the drug market has become cleaner, and substances have become much less dangerous for those who consume them.
It is necessary to create guidelines for drug-checking, as very small, non-psychoactive amounts of substances would be tested, which requires special permission. Since the staff of the association should not handle substances, an organization from Spain suggested that we set up a locked box under the supervision of Public Health staff or Ministry employees, where users would drop samples labeled with a serial number. The results would be published online by the weekend. We hope that this system will be enabled soon, and for now, we would at least like to receive permission to distribute reagent tests and fentanyl strips.
Introducing drug checking has been our main goal from the beginning, and we believe it will be realized over time. Currently, it is crucial to start openly discussing this topic, break the taboo, and prepare the ground for the day when this service will be available, so people will know about us and trust us to bring in their substances. Our mission is to create a safe community and build trust.
What do you think about the police’s actions in combating drugs, like closing and raiding clubs such as Sound Factory and AKC Attack?
We don’t believe closing down clubs is the right solution. However, our guidelines, which we are currently working on, also address the responsibility of the clubs. It is not necessary for every club to have Tripsitters (which is one of our goals), but it is crucial to ensure safe environments by monitoring crowd sizes, providing proper ventilation, offering drinking water, and establishing chill-out zones. Clubs must prioritize the safety of their visitors. Regarding closing individual clubs, that certainly is not a solution because the audience that used to gather there will continue gathering elsewhere and doing what they want. Clubs should have security, for example, in Berlin, if someone falls asleep in the club, security immediately reacts and removes the person from the club, which may not be the perfect solution, but a quick response is important. A person may be asleep and in a life-threatening condition, it is crucial that someone reacts immediately. What happened at the mentioned club is tragic.
How can we carefully educate young people about safety measures and risk reduction, and what are the key tips for responsible information and preparation before potentially experimenting with substances?
It is certainly important to educate yourself very well, to be aware of all the bad things that can happen, the dangers, what dose corresponds to which substance, and what to do if something goes wrong. We always recommend using reagent tests, being with a trusted sober person, and, of course, “start low, go slow.” People need to understand that you can always take more, but never less. We often notice among young people some form of competition to see who can take more, which is absolutely the wrong approach. Communication is key – if someone feels unwell, it’s vital to speak up. Withholding how you feel can lead to harmful situations, like bad trips or even life-threatening conditions, and it’s important for friends to act promptly. What we always advocate is that if you see that your friend or someone else around you is not doing well, call an ambulance. It’s not worth hesitating. Everything society or parents might say when they get angry becomes irrelevant when someone’s life is at stake. Additionally, we recommend staying in touch with us – we’re always available via message or through our “Ask a Psychologist” section for anonymous support.
What are the signs that recreational substance use is turning into risky/addictive behavior?
There are no rules, it depends on the initial motivation for consumption. Is the person using substances for fun, entertainment, curiosity, or as a way to escape from something? Someone who is dealing with pain or trauma might use substances to numb those feelings and may find it difficult to stop. They might want to keep using more in an attempt to escape. Setting personal boundaries is crucial, but it’s important to be aware of when those boundaries are being crossed and to seek help if necessary.
Do you have anything else you would like to say in conclusion?
The question we need to seriously ask and focus on is why so many young people feel the need and desire to consume substances. Everyone is always focused only on reducing availability, instead of focusing on how to make a change and address the huge desire among young people to consume psychoactive substances. Unfortunately, we often deal with the consequences, not the causes, and this is an approach that needs to change if we want to achieve real, long-term changes.
This year, Tripsitters has been nominated for the Ambassador Award for the Award for Special Contribution to the Scene, a public-voted category. If you believe in the importance of harm reduction and the work they are doing to make festivals and clubs safer, consider voting for them here.
If you want to be a part of this initiative Tripsitters are looking for new volunteers, especially in Zagreb.
Disclaimer:
The content of this article is intended solely for informational purposes and aims to raise awareness about harm reduction and safety measures related to substance use. Neither INSITE Croatia nor Tripsitters supports or encourages drug use in any form. Our mission is to provide educational resources, promote harm-reduction practices, and help individuals make informed decisions. If you or someone you know is struggling with substance use or mental health issues, we encourage you to seek professional help. You can reach out to the following resources for support:
- Slon phone – free and anonymous phone for mental health support by Terra Association
- 0800 9977
- INFO LINE FOR ADDICTIONS of the Croatian Institute of Public Health:
- 0800 2000 70 – free phone line
091 4683 070 – mobile phone line for calls, SMS messages and WhatsApp and Viber messages
- 0800 2000 70 – free phone line
- Mental Health Counselling Center by Croatian Institute of Public Health
- +385 1 48 63 363
