Netherlands National Drug Monitor - Research and Documentation ...

• The role of cannabis in all requests for treatment also rose – from 10% in 1994 to
25% in 2008.
• In 2008 approximately one third of primary cannabis clients were newcomers (34%).
These had not previously been registered with the (outpatient) addiction care services
for a drug-related problem.
• For 52% of primary clients, cannabis was the only problem; 48% reported problems
with another substance as well.
• The number of (outpatient) addiction care clients citing cannabis as a secondary
problem also rose between 1994 and 2008 (Figure 2.4). For this group, alcohol
(49%), cocaine or crack (29%), heroin (8%), amphetamine (7%) or gambling (2%)
was the primary problem.
Figure 2.4 Number of (outpatient) addiction care clients with primary or secondary cannabis
problems, from 1994
9000
Number
8000
7000
6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Primary
Secondary
1951 2274 2659 3264 3291 3281 3443 3432 3701 4485 5456 6100 6544 8017 8410
2846 2668 2718 2820 2844 3063 3144 3300 3697 4291 4630 5057 5167 5698 5940
Source: LADIS, IVZ (2009).
Age and gender
• In 2008 the majority of primary cannabis clients were male (79%). The ratio of
females fluctuated during the period 1994 to 2008 between 15% and 21%.
• In 2008 almost two-thirds of cannabis clients were aged over 25 (64%). The average
age was 29. The peak age group was 20 to 29 (Figure 2.5).
• In absolute terms the number of young clients aged between 15 and 19 rose from
462 in 2001 to 1,162 in 2008. However, relative to the other age groups, their ratio
in this period remained stable at 14 to 15 percent.
2 Cannabis
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