According to Wil de Zwart, senior policy developer with the Ministry for Health, Welfare and Sport"the results of monitoring studies by the Trimbos Institute can give rise to changes in ministerial policy. At the same time, the results are also used to support existing policy. For example, drug-related deaths are relatively low in the Netherlands. This finding confirms that a policy of harm reduction is on the right track." |
Number of cannabis users receiving treatment still risingDespite its liberal policy on soft drugs, cannabis use in the Netherlands is no higher than in other European countries. This has been established by the annual report of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction in Lisbon. (EMCDDA). Data from sources including the Dutch National Drug Monitor (NDM) were used for this report. |
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Cannabis use in the Netherlands is relatively modest compared to other countries. On average, 7% of European citizens have smoked weed or hashish during the past year. Italy and Spain have the highest number with 11%, followed by France and the Czech Republic with 9%. The Netherlands scores below the EU average with 5%.read more >> |
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However, if we look only at cannabis use among youngsters aged 15 to 24, quite different percentages emerge. France then scores 22%, compared to the Netherlands with ‘only’ 11%. This means that adolescents and young adults use considerably more cannabis than other age groups. Although cannabis use is currently fairly stable in the Netherlands, the number of cannabis users receiving treatment is increasing. This trend is visible in other European countries as well. The special report on cannabis by the EMCDDA puts forward various explanations for this. For example, an increase in (intensive) use; improved registration; and changes to laws and policy, meaning that more cannabis users are being referred to addiction care by the courts. This means that one may not simply conclude that the rising demand for treatment points to an increase in problem cannabis use. In order to obtain better insight into the risks and societal impact of cannabis use in the Netherlands, the Coordinating Agency for the Assessment Monitoring of new drugs (CAM) within the RIVM (National Institute for Public Health and the Environment) was commissioned with conducting a risk assessment in 2008. The findings will be published during the course of 2009.
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'Realistic evaluation of risks'"Margriet van Laar, programme head of Drug Monitoring explains that thanks to a strong tradition of monitoring in the Netherlands, realistic evaluation of risks can be made. This is particularly important in the area of drugs. From a political point of view, drug use is, after all, an emotionally charged topic, particularly in a European context. It is therefore to be hoped that this research will contribute to meaningful political debate and balanced decision making. "
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