NCJ Number
238526
Date Published
2012
Length
259 pages
Annotation
This Report on the Drug Situation in the Netherlands 2011 addresses developments in drug law and policies, drug use, drug-use prevention, drug treatment, health correlates and consequences, drug-related crime, drug-related health policies and services in prison, and drug-using parents.
Abstract
Developments in drug law and policies pertain to the Opium Act and the directives for prosecution as well as forensic care for detainees with addiction or mental health problems. Regarding drug policy, the combating of the cultivation of cannabis and the investigation and prosecution of organized crime involved in drug trafficking are top priorities. According to the most recent survey on drug use (2009), 30 percent of the last month users had used cannabis daily in the past month. Seven percent of the population 15-64 years old had used cannabis in the last year. The percentage of recent users of cocaine and ecstasy was 1.2 percent and 1.4 percent. Amphetamine remained the least popular drug, with 1.4 percent of the population being recent users. Regarding developments in problem drug use, the number of problem opiate users has decreased in past years to 18,000. The number of primary crack users who do not use opiates has increased in the past decade. Regarding developments in drug prevention, special attention has been given to early identification of drug problems in vulnerable groups, especially youth. Recruitment for drug treatment is expanding, and experimental initiatives are underway. The number of acute drug-related deaths was lower in 2010 compared to 2009 (94 compared to 139). The number of arrestees registered by the police as drug users is decreasing (5,960 in 2010). Several services are available for problematic drug users in the criminal justice system. Seizures are reported for various types of drugs. 46 tables, 20 figures, and a listing of Web sites for drug law provisions