Netherlands National Drug Monitor - Research and Documentation ...

Age and Gender
• Data from Addiction Care Noord Nederland show that the average age of GHB users
was 27 and that over half were male (Quo Fadis, 2009).
• In the Gelderland region most requests were from young people aged 16 to 24,
gender unspecified (De Jong et al., 2008).
General Hospitals: Incidents
The national Injury Information System (LIS) of the consumer safety association registers
patients who receive emergency treatment in a selection of hospitals in the Netherlands
for injury caused by an accident, violence or self-mutilation incident involving drugs use.
These hospitals constitute a representative sample of hospitals in the Netherlands that
have a 24/7 emergency department (Valkenberg, 2009).
• LIS identified a sharp rise in the number of cases involving GHB use treated in hospital
emergency departments from 2003 to 2008. During this period, the annual number
quadrupled to some 980 cases in 2008 3 . This breaks down as 19 cases per week.
• In 36 percent of the cases treated, it is known that alcohol as well as GHB was taken.
• Over 40 percent of the cases treated were bad enough to require hospitalisation. Half
of these were referred directly to intensive care.
• Some 3 percent of those treated claim to have been the victim of unnoticed/unintended
drug ingestion, such as having their drink ‘spiked’.
• Approximately 65 percent of cases occurred at the weekend.
• 67 percent of those treated in emergency departments from 2003 to 2007 were male
(Table 6.3). Over half (53%) were aged between 20 and 29; 24 percent were aged
between 30 and 39 and 15 percent were in the 15 through 19 year age group.
Table 6.3 GHB incidents by age and gender. Data are averaged over 2003-2007
Age (years) Male Female
0-14 - 2%
15-25 42% 55%
25-54 57% 41%
Unknown 1% 2%
Gender 67% 33%
Source: Injury Information System 2003-2007, Consumer and Safety.
The GGD (Amsterdam) registers the number of requests for emergency treatment from
the Ambulance Transport Centre (CPA).
• Between 2001 and 2008 the number of incidents involving GHB almost doubled
(Table 6.4).
• In half of the cases, removal to hospital was necessary. The remainder were treated
at the scene.
3 The national estimate is based on 105 registered cases in 2008 in LIS.
6 GHB
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