Journalist Roger Van de Velde (1925-1970) found himself in trouble with the law after forging doctors’ letters to obtain Palfium (Dextromoramide). The drug had originally been recommended as a painkiller by his doctor before it was known to be addictive. It is unbelievable but true that as a result of that fraudulent act, Van de Velde spent eight years in prisons and psychiatric institutions with just short intervals in-between. During that time, he produced a small literary oeuvre of lasting merit. A campaign led by writers eventually resulted in his being released. Just a few weeks later Roger Van de Velde was found dead in a chair at a street café in the centre of Antwerp. He probably died of an overdose of Palfium. It seems that in 2012 the (non-)treatment of prisoners in Belgium is still unworthy of a welfare state.