Netherlands National Drug Monitor - Research and Documentation ...

Holiday-makers
• Research conducted at youth camp sites in 2003 (average age 17.4), has shown that
over 80% of the boys and nearly half the girls drink alcohol every day during the
holiday. Boys consume an average of 17 drinks per day, and girls take seven drinks a
day (De Graaf & Poort, 2004).
Problem Youth
Alcohol use is often common among certain groups of problem youth.
• Juveniles attending a truancy project in Amsterdam are more likely to be current
drinkers (over 50%) than their non-truant peers who attend school regularly (40%)
(Korf et al., 2004a).
• Pupils attending schools for children with severe educational difficulties (ZMOK) do not
differ significantly in terms of frequency and intensity of alcohol use from their peers in
mainstream schools. However, when only the native Dutch pupils are compared, the
ZMOK school pupils do drink more and more often (Van Zundert et al., 2004).
• Research conducted among young people in care in Amsterdam (age 14-25); average
age 17.5) shows that 54 percent consumed alcohol during the past month (current
drinkers) (Nabben et al., 2007a).
- The vast majority of the current drinkers only drink occasionally (86%); a mere 2%
consume alcohol on a daily basis.
- The current drinkers take five drinks on each occasion, on average.
- Six percent of those in Amsterdam youth care meet the definition for risk drinking.
This is defined as consuming at least four drinks per session daily or several times a
week (up to age 19) or five drinks per occasion (young people over 19).
- The above data on the proportion of current drinkers, the average number of drinks
and risk drinking among young people in the Amsterdam youth care are similar to
the findings from an earlier study conducted among school-goers in Amsterdam.
- Girls and boys in care in Amsterdam are equally likely to be current drinkers, drink
the same amount per session and are equally likely to be risk drinkers.
- Differences were however found between boys of western and non-western origin.
Among those of western origin, the percentage of current drinkers (74%) and
risk drinkers (12%) is much higher than among non-western boys (46% and 3%
respectively). When they drink, however, both groups consume the same number
of units per occasion.
- Juvenile delinquents are less often current drinkers (40%) than juveniles with behaviour
problems (59%) or homeless youth (61%).
• In 2008 a nationwide survey on alcohol use was conducted among juveniles aged 12
to 16 in residential care (Kepper et al., 2009). The percentage of ever drinkers among
12 to 13 year olds, 14 to 15 year olds and among 16 year olds was 73, 95 and 96
percent, respectively. For current drinkers in these age groups, the percentages were
31, 67 and 72, respectively. 49% of current drinkers aged 14 and 15 had been drunk
in the past month, and 53% of the 16 year olds. 81% and 82% in both these groups
respectively had engaged in binge drinking in the past month (five or more drinks)..
154 Netherlands National Drug Monitor - NDM Annual Report 2009