Netherlands National Drug Monitor - Research and Documentation ...

• In some two-thirds of cases opiates or crack/cocaine are the primary problem
substance; in 5% of cases the problem drug is cannabis. There was a decline in the
percentage that had a primary problem with opiates, whereas cocaine/crack and
cannabis were more frequently the primary problem.
The decline in overall crime in the Netherlands, in particular the marked drop in property
crimes appears to be partly attributable to the drop in criminality among primary opiate
users (Van Ooyen, 2009).
Drug problems among detainees
• Research from 2007 shows that 38% of detainees reported problem drug use in the
year prior to custody (Oliemeulen et al., 2007). One third are risk users of cannabis,
19% are problem cocaine users and 12% are problem opiate users. The use of
(unprescribed) sedatives was also often problematic (in 15% of cases).
• More recently, Bulten & Nijman (2009) published the results of research conducted
among 191 randomly selected adult male detainees in a penitentiary institution
in Vught. The Mini international neuropsychiatric interview was used to establish
conditions such as the prevalence of drug addiction in the past year. Detainees were
examined during the initial phase after arrival in custody. It was established that
29.8% (within a margin of 23.3 to 36.3 percent) of the detainees had battled a drug
addiction during the past year. The type of drug was not specified.
• A comparison with research conducted among representative samples of detainees in
the period from 1997 to 2007 suggests that the percentage of detainees with a drug
problem remains unchanged (Van Ooyen, 2009).
10.3 Interventions for drug users in
the criminal justice system
In this section the following are discussed:
• The clients and activities within probationary aftercare
• Behavioural interventions during detention
• Treatment as an alternative to prosecution and sanctions
• The measure ‘Placement in an Institution for Prolific Offenders’ (ISD).
Probationary Aftercare of addicts
Since 2002 information has been available from the Patient Monitoring System (CVS)
of the Probationary Aftercare Service for Addicts.
• In 2007, there were over 17,000 addicts in probationary after care, and in 2008 over
18,000. The number is increasing (table 10.1).
• The average age is 37.6 and 92% are male.
• Nearly three-quarters were born in the Netherlands. A large proportion (over 70%
have no steady job, half are single or have no stable living situation. 4% did not
216 Netherlands National Drug Monitor - NDM Annual Report 2009