Netherlands National Drug Monitor - Research and Documentation ...

Figure 3.3 Age distribution of primary cocaine clients of (outpatient) addiction care. Survey year 2008
25
%
20
18
19 19
15
14
10
10
10
5
1
5
3
15-19 20-24 25-29 30-34 35-39 40-44 45-49 50-54 >54
Age
Percentage of clients per age group. Source: LADIS, IVZ (2009).
General hospitals; incidents
In general hospitals, cocaine misuse and dependence are not often registered as the
primary diagnosis for clinical admissions.
• In 2008 there were 131 cases, of which 69% were due to cocaine misuse and 31%
to cocaine dependence (Figure 3.4).
• Cocaine related problems are more often recorded as a secondary diagnosis. During
the past decade, despite fluctuations from year to year, there has been an overall
rise in the number of admissions with cocaine misuse or dependence as a secondary
diagnosis. Between 2006 and 2007, the number of secondary diagnoses rose by 18%
from 514 to 607, and in 2008, the number stabilised at 617 secondary diagnoses.
• In 2008 the most frequently occurring categories of primary diagnoses which had
cocaine misuse or dependence registered as a secondary diagnosis were:
- diseases and symptoms of the respiratory system (18%)
- injury through accidents (15%, such as fractures, cuts, concussion)
- poisoning (12%)
- misuse of or dependence on alcohol or (other) drugs (14%)
- diseases of the cardio-vascular system (9%)
- psychotic disorders (5%).
72 Netherlands National Drug Monitor - NDM Annual Report 2009