Beyond essential health and harm reduction services, Metzineres includes services of cover basic needs such as shower, access to internet, hot meals, spaces for peer-support,[5] modalities to engage with neighborhood communities,[6] help to entrepreneurship, art[7] and cultural activities,[8] webradio,[9] as well as aneedle and syringe programme and asupervised injection site.[10] Metzineres also engage in advocacy such as demands forheroin-assisted treatment.[11]
Because of barriers to access to healthcare and institutional gaps, marginalized women and non-binary persons who use illicit drugs may not access the health or social services to which they are entitled. For this reason, some believe that "the Metzineres initiative [...] represents a promising model for how harm-reduction programs can provide essential services and support to women and gender non-conforming drug users who have survived situations of violence."[12]
During theCOVID-19 pandemic in Spain, Metzineres was recognized as an essential health service by health authorities,[13] and integrated as a special intervention service in the healthcare plan of theCatalan government.[14]
The word "metzinera" (plural: "metzineres") is an ancientcatalan term, historically used to denigrate women accused ofwitchcraft, in particular for their use of herbal remedies.[2] According to FilterMag, "the 'x' in the word womxn intentionally signifies a commitment to engage cis, trans and non-binary community members."[19]
