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Netherlands National Drug Monitor - Research and Documentation ...

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1 Introduction<br />

The <strong>National</strong> <strong>Drug</strong> <strong>Monitor</strong><br />

In the <strong>Netherl<strong>and</strong>s</strong> there are several monitoring organisations that follow developments in<br />

the area of substance abuse. Scientific papers are also frequently published about usage<br />

patterns, prevention <strong>and</strong> treatment methods. In this veritable sea of information, the<br />

<strong>National</strong> <strong>Drug</strong> <strong>Monitor</strong> (NDM) provides policymakers <strong>and</strong> professionals working in practice<br />

as well as various other target groups with an up-to-date overview of the situation.<br />

The primary goal of the NDM is to gather data about developments in substance use<br />

in a coordinated <strong>and</strong> consistent manner on the basis of existing research <strong>and</strong> registered<br />

data, <strong>and</strong> to process this information <strong>and</strong> translate it into a number of core products,<br />

such as Annual Reports <strong>and</strong> thematic reports. This aim is consistent with the current<br />

quest for evidence-based policy <strong>and</strong> practice.<br />

The NDM was set up in 1999 on the initiative of the Minister for Health, Welfare <strong>and</strong><br />

Sport. 1 <strong>Drug</strong> use, however, is not exclusive to the domain of public health but also<br />

involves aspects of criminality <strong>and</strong> public nuisance. Since 2002, the Ministry of Justice<br />

has also supported the NDM.<br />

The NDM embraces the following functions:<br />

• Acting as umbrella for <strong>and</strong> coordinator between the various surveys <strong>and</strong> registrations<br />

in the <strong>Netherl<strong>and</strong>s</strong> concerning the use of addictive substances (drugs, alcohol,<br />

tobacco) <strong>and</strong> addiction. The NDM aspires towards the improvement <strong>and</strong> harmonisation<br />

of monitoring activities in the <strong>Netherl<strong>and</strong>s</strong>, while taking account of international<br />

guidelines for data collection.<br />

• Synthesising data <strong>and</strong> reporting to national governments <strong>and</strong> to international <strong>and</strong><br />

national organisations. The international organisations to which the NDM reports<br />

include the WHO (World Health Organisation), the UN <strong>and</strong> the EMCDDA (European<br />

<strong>Monitor</strong>ing Centre for <strong>Drug</strong>s <strong>and</strong> <strong>Drug</strong> Addiction).<br />

Within the NDM, the collection <strong>and</strong> integration of data are central. These activities are<br />

conducted on the basis of a limited number of key indicators – or barometers of policy –<br />

which are agreed by the EU member states within the framework of the EMCDDA. Data<br />

are collected on the following:<br />

• Substance use in the general population<br />

• Problem use <strong>and</strong> addiction<br />

• Treatment dem<strong>and</strong> from addiction care<br />

• Illness in relation to substance use<br />

• Deaths in relation to substance use.<br />

1 Introduction<br />

27

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