The Netherlands Drug Situation 2010 - Trimbos-instituut

drugs. However, there is a narrow border between only using drugs and dealing drugs. Itis common practice within a group of drug users that one of the users buys the drugs forthe whole group. The buyer then shares the drugs within the group.In previous years, such a "sharing provider" was only seen as a user, but since 2008the police and the public prosecutor in some jurisdictions have changed their policy. Atcertain public parties, a "sharing provider" is now seen and treated as a drug dealer. Thelatest Trendwatch, for example, describes a telling case of a generous user who wantedto share ecstasy, GHB, and speed, just to celebrate his birthday (Doekhie et al. 2010).Having been arrested by an undercover agent, and having made a settlement with thepublic prosecutor, this celebrating drug user now has a criminal record. Moreover, withinthe framework of the new local zerotolerance policies that are spreading throughout thewhole country (in Dutch: nultolerantiebeleid), the General Public Prosecutor's Office hasofficially confirmed that, at dance parties, detection is no longer restricted to dealers.Police detection now targets "all possessors of drugs". With regard to the issue of socialexclusion, the change in the Dutch prosecution policy implies that, since 2008, certaindrug users in the Netherlands have come at a greater risk to experience social exclusion.Finally, with regard to the rather sensitive issue of undercover operations, the opportunitiesand risks of this precarious method to detect the illegal possession of illegal drugshave been evaluated (Kruisbergen et al. 2010).8.2 Social reintegrationMany chronic drug users also have other problems, for instance problems due to causingpublic nuisance or conducting criminal behaviour, financial problems, or having no housingor work. Although the vulnerable group with multiple problems also includes peoplewho do not use drugs, a considerable overlap exists with the group of problem drug users.In February 2006, the national government and the municipalities of the four largest citiesof the Netherlands signed and funded the "Strategy Plan for Social Relief" for thegroup with complex and persistent problems (Plan van Aanpak Maatschappelijke Opvang).From 2006 up to including 2009, in the four largest cities Amsterdam, Rotterdam,The Hague, and Utrecht, the Great 4 (G4), a total of 9,786 homeless people were pickedoff from the streets and were taken into social relief. This was only the first phase of theStrategy Plan for Social Relief. On the 9th of February 2010, the second phase of theplan was launched (GGZ Nederland 2010;Maas et al. 2010). In this second phase of theplan, apart from the G4, the remaining 39 centre municipalities started implementing theplan. Including the G4, there are a total of 43 centre municipalities in the Netherlands.Moreover, apart from taking care for the homeless, measures will be taken to preventhomelessness in the first place among vulnerable people who are at risk to becomehomeless. The second phase of the plan will run until February 2014.Programs advertised in annual reportsAs a reflection of the social relief strategy, institutes for addiction care can be found toadvertise in their annual social reports special programs that aim at the social reintegrationof drug users. Moreover, on the 21st of May 2010, the customer councils and 15institutes for addiction care signed the Charter of Maastricht (Handvest van Maastricht).According to this charter, social reintegration will become the guiding principle in the addictioncare (Oude Bos et al. 2010). Table 8.2.1 reviews the social-reintegration programsas advertised in the annual reports. All care institutions in the Netherlands are112