Belgium, a major global MDMA producer alongside the Netherlands, faces profound social repercussions from XTC production and trade, including violence, tax evasion, and environmental damage. Despite this, MDMA is resurging for therapeutic use amidst a heated public debate. In response, Belgian researchers, inspired by Dutch initiatives, plan an 'Ecstasy shop' in Ghent to explore alternative MDMA sale scenarios.
This initiative aims to gauge stakeholder perspectives on MDMA sales via immersive experiences in a simulated XTC-shop. Participants engage in simulated transactions, discussions, and explore various regulatory models and harm reduction strategies.
THE XTC-SHOP at Ghent embodies an intersection of academia, public engagement, and policy advocacy. It pioneers experiential research to understand societal, health, and legal dimensions of MDMA use and regulation. The presentation at the conference will detail the project's framework, design, and methodologies, emphasizing how such experiential research informs evidence-based policymaking and public discourse.
Anticipated outcomes include nuanced insights into public views on MDMA regulation, guiding policymakers on regulatory frameworks, and enriching harm reduction debates. The presentation aims to prompt dialogue on the role of experiential research in shaping drug policy.
This project showcases innovative methodologies bridging public opinion, policy, and societal impact. It stands as a model for collaborative, participatory research on sensitive socio-political issues, emphasizing the imperative role of such approaches in shaping public policy.