Netherlands National Drug Monitor - Research and Documentation ...
Netherlands National Drug Monitor - Research and Documentation ...
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 />
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