Netherlands National Drug Monitor - Research and Documentation ...

Amsterdam
GGD Amsterdam reports the number of deaths among drug users on an annual basis
(Figure 4.8). Unlike the national cause of death figures of Statistics Netherlands (CBS)
the overdose deaths registered in Amsterdam also include deaths among people not
included in the population register. These include illegal immigrants and tourists. The
GGD report also takes account of registered opiate users in Amsterdam who died of
causes other than an overdose.
• In 2007 and 2008 respectively, 25 and 22 drug users in Amsterdam died following an
‘overdose’ of drugs - often opiates, with or without other substances.
• Deceased opiate clients have usually died of causes other than an overdose such as
endocarditis, sepsis, lung disease, liver cirrhosis, suicide, accidents, violence or AIDS.
As they grow older, opiate users are more likely die of underlying conditions such as
diseases of the lungs, liver or heart.
- The drop in the number of deaths registered in the early 1990s did not continue
through the mid-1990s. After a sharp rise in 2004 in the category ‘other causes of
death’, the number in this category rose in 2005, but dropped again in 2006. In
2007 and 2008, there was a further rise (figure 4.8).
102 Netherlands National Drug Monitor - NDM Annual Report 2009