Netherlands National Drug Monitor - Research and Documentation ...

• Among clubbers in Amsterdam, ever use increased from 10.4 percent in 1998 to 17.8
percent in 2003, followed by a slight drop to 15.7 percent in 2008. Current use rose
from 2.4 percent in 1998 to 4.2 percent in 2003 and 4.7 percent in 2008. Two percent
of clubbers had used GHB on the evening in question (Benschop et al., 2009).
• At dance parties in 2008, 14% of those who approached the Unity information stand
had used GHB in the past month; six percent had used it on the evening in question
(Benschop et al., 2009).However, since Unity targets alcohol and drug users, it is
therefore likely to attract relatively many current users.
• The findings of qualitative research suggest that from the late 1990s, GHB use was
gaining in popularity among the trendy socialising set in Amsterdam. This rising trend
stabilised around 2003, after which the drug appeared to decline in popularity in this
group. However, in 2008 it was asserted that some Amsterdam social circles were
literally ‘awash with’ GHB (Benschop et al., 2009). Panel members of the Antenna
Monitoring station estimate that GHB is here to stay. GHB is also used in the social
scene outside Amsterdam, often in a very risky way.
• In recent years, GHB appears to be increasing in popularity particularly among groups
of youths in the provinces, particularly in locations outside the regular social scene
(De Jong et al., 2008). Daily use has also been observed in some groups of problem
youngsters, who might previously have been regarded as experimenting.
• The Trendwatch monitor of 2006/2007 describes GHB addicts who take a bottle
cap of GHB every four hours (2-2.5 gram dissolved in 5 ml water). By contrast,
recreational users tend to limit their use to the weekend (Nabben et al., 2007b).
• In 2008/2009 substance use was examined among attendees at eleven national and
regionally organised large-scale parties and festivals (Trimbos Institute/University of
Amsterdam, 2010).
- For GHB, rates of 14% for ever use and 5% for current use were found.
- During the evening in question, 3% of all attendees had used GHB, but this varied
considerably between events (range: 0 to 20%).
• In the same survey in 2008/2009, substance use among clubbers and disco-goers was
studied in large and medium-sized municipalities in five regions of the Netherlands:
North (Friesland, Groningen, Drenthe), East (Gelderland and Overijssel), Central
(Utrecht, Flevoland), West (Noord- and Zuid-Holland) and South (Noord- Brabant,
Zeeland, Limburg).
- The percentage of clubbers that had ever used GHB varied from 8.4 percent in West
to 3.9 percent in North.
- The percentage of current GHB users varied from 2.2 percent in region West to 1.1
percent in South.
- On the basis of these regional data, a national estimate of this substance use among
clubbers is being drawn up. These data were not available for this Annual Report,
but will be included in the final report of the social scene survey.
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