Drug Monologues

Do you dare to talk about your experiences with drugs? The ‘Drug Monologues’ project invites people to ‘come out of the closet’ with their drug use.

An online and physical installation

Through the Drug Monologues app, anyone can record a story. Choose between staying completely anonymous with only audio or revealing yourself fully on video. The app explores a wide variety of themes related to drug use: the reasons for using, the pleasure and negative impact, and the scene in which people use(d).

Since 2022, the app has been tested in Utrecht, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Enschede. We are now working on a new version that will be available on our website in September, allowing you to share your story too! For events, we have also created a physical installation centered around the Drug Monologues app, which will be available for loan starting in September. 

 

Open University Partnership

Poppi is teaming up with the Open University for the Drug Monologues project. Thanks to funding from NWO, they are able to analyze stories from a historical perspective until October 2025. Together, we are capturing stories from individuals who used drugs before 1990, exploring various scenes and patterns of use, from recreational to problematic. By the end of 2024, we will gather these unique stories through workshops utilizing the physical Drug Monologues installation. Plus, the app is open to everyone – young and old – who wants to share their experiences.

 

Anonymous and Secure 

During the development of the app, we made safety and data protection our top priorities. We recognize the significant taboo around drug use and want to ensure that sharing your story won’t cause trouble with employers or family members.

Users have complete control over how much of their identity they reveal and the purposes for which their story may be used (research, social media, or within the app). We do not store personal data, and every story undergoes moderation before being made public. This process prevents people from posting stories they might regret, mentioning others’ names, or including inappropriate language or shocking content. KNAW-DANS, the national expertise center and repository for research data, provides guidance and ensures the secure storage of data

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