Dutch Care Home Permits Regulated Alcohol and Cannabis Use for Addicted Elderly Residents
A Nijmegen care home is allowing older residents with addictions to consume regulated amounts of alcohol and cannabis, aiming to address gaps in standard elderly care while prioritizing resident wellbeing
Key Points
- 1The Zilverspar unit in Nijmegen allows elderly residents with addictions to use alcohol, cannabis, or methadone in controlled amounts
- 2Residents receive standard nursing care alongside regulated substance use, with daily schedules agreed between staff and residents
- 3Doctors say the approach targets those who cannot access regular care homes due to addiction but are too frail for addiction-specific housing
- 4Healthcare leaders have offered cautious support, but some warn against treating managed supply as a long-term solution
- 5De Waalboog emphasizes harm reduction and resident wellbeing, with abstinence considered a bonus rather than the primary goal
A care home in Nijmegen, the Netherlands, has introduced a novel approach to addiction care for older residents by allowing controlled consumption of alcohol and cannabis. The Zilverspar unit, operated by De Waalboog, opened in November 2025 and houses 36 residents who struggle with addiction but do not fit into traditional care settings. According to DutchNews, these individuals often face barriers to entering standard care homes due to their substance use, while also being too frail for mental health or addiction-specific housing
Residents at Zilverspar receive routine nursing support alongside measured doses of alcohol, cannabis, or methadone, with the amounts and schedules agreed upon between staff and residents. Dr. Ewoud de Jong, a physician at the facility, explained, “We see that older people with an addiction often fall between the cracks.” He emphasized that for many, substances are managed as “a kind of daily necessity” within a framework of regulated use, rather than aiming for complete abstinence
The initiative has sparked a mix of praise and caution within the Dutch healthcare community. Bianca Buurman, chair of the V&VN nursing association, acknowledged the potential benefits of combining expertise from both physical and mental health fields, stating that such collaboration could improve care for this group. However, Wilco Sliedrecht, head of the addiction doctors’ association (VVGN), expressed concerns about treating managed substance supply as a default solution. He argued, “Addiction is often a survival strategy for people who see no point in life without the numbing effect of drugs,” and advocated for regular reviews and ongoing encouragement to reduce or stop use
De Waalboog maintains that the primary goal is the wellbeing and stability of residents, with weekly progress reviews and a focus on harm reduction over abstinence. “If a resident does so well that quitting turns out to be a feasible option, that is a bonus, but it is never the goal,” the organization clarified. Residents retain autonomy, with freedom to leave the facility and participate in their own care planning
OG Lab notes that this experiment in regulated substance use highlights the complexities of addiction care for aging populations, raising important questions about harm reduction, patient autonomy, and the evolving role of care homes in addressing overlapping medical and psychiatric needs
