Netherlands National Drug Monitor - Research and Documentation ...

5.4 Problem use
• It is not known how many problem users of Ecstasy and amphetamines there are, i.e.
people who are impeded in their daily functioning by their drug use or even become
addicted.
• Chronic use of both Ecstasy and amphetamine can lead to dependency. However,
there is debate concerning Ecstasy withdrawal syndrome (Degenhardt et al., 2009;
Leung and Cottler, 2008).
• The number of requests for treatment from addiction care services in connection with
Ecstasy is low (see also § 5.6). It is not known whether this has to do with a lack of
problems in this area, the nature and seriousness of the symptoms or other factors.
• Since 2008, Ecstasy users can now seek treatment during special clinical consultations
with the addiction care services in the west of the country. Users apparently mainly
report symptoms such as depression, feelings of derealisation, anxiety, reduced
concentration, tiredness, feeling shocks to the head, pins and needles, muscle twitching,
vision problems and dizziness.
5.5 Usage: international comparison
General population
Tables 5.4a and 5.4b present data on the use of Ecstasy and amphetamines in a number
of EU member states, Norway, Australia, Canada and the US.
• Differences in survey year, measuring methods and sampling hamper a precise
comparison. The main factor of influence is the age group. Table 5.4a shows usage
figures that have been (re)calculated according to the standard age category of the
EMCDDA (15 to 64). Figures for the other countries are contained in Table 5.4b. For
Europe only countries in the EU-15 plus Norway are included.
• With regard to ever use of Ecstasy, Australia tops the list with 8.9%. Percentages
of five percent or higher are found in the U.K., (7.3%), Ireland (5.4%) and the US
(5.2%). In the Netherlands, over 4% have ever used Ecstasy (4.3%). In Greece and
Sweden the number of ever users does not exceed one percent.
• The percentage of ever users of amphetamine ranges from less than 1% in Portugal
and Greece to 8.5% in the US, with an outlier of 12% in the U.K. (England and
Wales). 2% of people in the Netherlands have ever used amphetamine.
• Of the countries shown in Tables 5.4a and 5.4b, the percentage of recent users is
highest for both Ecstasy (over 3%) and amphetamine (2%) in Australia. In the EU-15
member states and Norway, the figures for recent Ecstasy use range from zero to two
percent.
• In the Netherlands, the percentage of recent Ecstasy users (1.2%) is above the European
average of 0.8%. For recent amphetamine use, the Dutch percentage of 0.3%
is below the European average of 0.6% (EMCDDA, 2009).
5 Ecstasy, amphetamine and related substances
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