15.01.2015 Views

Netherlands National Drug Monitor - Research and Documentation ...

Netherlands National Drug Monitor - Research and Documentation ...

Netherlands National Drug Monitor - Research and Documentation ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

after the last dose of the drug. To treat this withdrawal syndrome, pharmaco-therapeutic<br />

intervention may be necessary.<br />

Internationally, a large number of studies have been conducted on GHB dependence<br />

<strong>and</strong> on withdrawal symptoms (Gonzales <strong>and</strong> Nutt, 2005).<br />

• Prevalence figures vary considerably: 21 percent of a r<strong>and</strong>om sample of GHB users<br />

in the US were dependent on the substance, compared to 4 percent of a sample of<br />

GHB users in Australia.<br />

• There is a consensus among researchers that daily use of GHB (with daytime doses<br />

every one to three hours) increases the likelihood of dependency.<br />

There is a lack of data on the number of GHB addicts in the <strong>Netherl<strong>and</strong>s</strong>.<br />

• Qualitative research conducted in the <strong>Netherl<strong>and</strong>s</strong> in 2006/2007 found that the first<br />

GHB addicts have been encountered in the social scene. These are mainly daily users<br />

(Nabben et al., 2007a).<br />

• Addiction care organisations throughout the <strong>Netherl<strong>and</strong>s</strong> report a sharp increase in<br />

the number of GHB clients in 2008 – estimated at several hundred, although precise<br />

data are not available (Trimbos report) (see § 6.6).<br />

Likewise, the number of acute incidents appears to be on the increase (see§ 6.6).<br />

Various organisations operating in the area of nightlife <strong>and</strong> addiction report a change<br />

in attitudes among certain groups of young people in relation to GHB use. It appears<br />

that use of this drug is now considered more normal. GBH is increasingly regarded as a<br />

cheap alternative to alcohol <strong>and</strong> other drugs. Passing out (into a coma) is regarded in<br />

these circles as a harmless side effect of the drug.<br />

6.5 Usage: international comparison<br />

General Population<br />

As is the case in Dutch population surveys on drug use, little is known about GHB use<br />

in the general population in other countries.<br />

• The only country outside the EU that has (recent) data on GHB use is Australia. 0.5<br />

percent of the Australian population aged over 14 reported having ever having used<br />

GHB, while 0.1 percent reported recent use. The peak age group was between 20<br />

<strong>and</strong> 29 (Degenhardt & Dunn, 2008).<br />

Juveniles <strong>and</strong> Young Adults<br />

In the ESPAD surveys conducted among 15 <strong>and</strong> 16 year old school-goers in Europe in<br />

2007, respondents were asked about ever use of GHB. The data from this research lend<br />

themselves better to international comparison than data from surveys conducted in the<br />

general population (Hibell et al., 2009).<br />

6 GHB<br />

137

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!