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Netherlands National Drug Monitor - Research and Documentation ...

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Summary<br />

Below is an outline of the most striking developments from the 2009 Annual Report.<br />

Tables 1a <strong>and</strong> 1b give an overview of the most recent figures on substance use <strong>and</strong><br />

drug-related crime. The percentage of recent users refers to the percentage that used a<br />

substance during the past year; the percentage of current users refers to the percentage<br />

that has used a substance during the past month.<br />

<strong>Drug</strong>s: usage <strong>and</strong> treatment dem<strong>and</strong><br />

Large difference in cannabis use between mainstream <strong>and</strong> special<br />

education, treatment dem<strong>and</strong> continues to rise<br />

Among mainstream secondary school-goers aged 12 to 18 years, the percentage of<br />

current cannabis users declined gradually between 1996 <strong>and</strong> 2007. This decline was<br />

most marked among boys. In 2007 8% of this age group were current cannabis users<br />

- 6% of girls <strong>and</strong> 10% of boys. Between 2003 <strong>and</strong> 2007 the percentage of boys who<br />

had already tried cannabis at a very young age (14) declined from 21% to 13%; among<br />

14 year-old girls, the decline in ever use during this period was less marked (down from<br />

16% to 12%).<br />

By comparison with pupils in mainstream secondary education, cannabis use is more<br />

frequent among the pupils of REC-4 schools for special education. These include pupils<br />

in schools within a Regional Expertise Centre for very problematic children, children<br />

with a long-term psychiatric condition, pupils of schools affiliated to a Pedagogical<br />

Institute, pupils in practical education (pro) <strong>and</strong> pupils of support education schools<br />

(lwoo). 41% of 16 year old pupils attending REC-4 schools are current cannabis users,<br />

compared to 13% of their peers in mainstream education. The use of other drugs is<br />

also more prevalent among the pupils of REC-4 schools. There is little or no difference<br />

in drug use between pupils receiving support education, practical education or mainstream<br />

education. Incidentally, the numbers involved in the special schools are low (see<br />

appendix F).<br />

Despite the decline trend of the past decade, the percentage of cannabis users among<br />

Dutch school-goers in 2007 is relatively high compared to school-goers in other European<br />

countries. Of the EU-15 only Spain has a higher percentage of current cannabis<br />

users among school-goers in the 15-16 year age group (20%). This is followed by the<br />

<strong>Netherl<strong>and</strong>s</strong> <strong>and</strong> France (both15%), Italy (13%), Belgium (12%) <strong>and</strong> the U.K. (11%).<br />

In the remaining countries, the percentage of current cannabis users ranges between<br />

1% <strong>and</strong> 10%.<br />

Summary<br />

15

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