The Netherlands Drug Situation 2010 - Trimbos-instituut

7 Responses to health correlates and consequences7.1 Prevention of drug-related emergencies and reduction ofdrug-related deathsDrug-related emergenciesIn 2008, the "Monitor drug-related emergencies" (Monitor drugsincidenten) was developed,which was piloted in the first half of 2009. The monitor aims to identify, on an actualbasis, trends in drug-related health incidents (via a basic registration), and simultaneouslyintends to pick up acute life-threatening situations (via case reports). The findingswill be used as direct input for preventive measures, both directed at drug users andhealth care workers, as well as to policy makers. Healthcare workers can report drugrelatedemergencies online at the website www.drugsincidenten.nl. The emergencies areregistered as light, moderate, and severe intoxications.The results for 2009 have now been reported (Vogels 2010), see § 6.2.Drug-related deathsWithin the framework of its harm reduction policy, the Netherlands has consolidated in2009 the prevailing practices to prevent drug-related deaths. There is no specific newinformation available in addition to the prevention measures that have been reportedalready in the previous national reports.7.2 Prevention and treatment of drug-related infectious diseases7.2.1 Needle/syringe exchangeEstimates from Mainline (a grassroots organisation for drug users in Amsterdam) and theTrimbos Institute suggest that there are approximately 150 needle/syringe exchangeprograms in the Netherlands. This is a rough estimate because for some cities it has beenreported that pharmacists are also exchanging syringes. In Amsterdam and Rotterdamtrend data on the numbers of syringes that were exchanged are available. In both cities,a decreasing trend in the number of exchanged syringes is observed (see figure 7.2.1).101