The Netherlands Drug Situation 2010 - Trimbos-instituut

Opium Act offenders in prisons (figure 9.1.1)Of the 11,682 persons who are detained in Dutch prisons on September 30, 2009, 22%was there because of an Opium Act offence. In 2008, this was 20%. There are more offendersdetained for violent offences (46%). Opium Act offences are second in proportion.Figure 9.1.1: Percentage of detainees for Opium Act offences, compared to five othercategories of offences, September 30, 2009Other5%Opium Act offences22%Violent offences46%Traffic offences3%Disturbance of Public Order offences4%Property crimes20%Source: De Heer - de Lange et al. 2010.New developments in Opium Act offences and the Opium Act In 2009, an Appendix 2 was added to the Opium Act Decision, which makes it possibleto prescribe heroin for treatment resistant heroin addicts registered at municipaltreatment units by physicians working at those units (Stb 2009-348; see Chapter 1).Also in 2009, BZP (1-benzylpiperazine) was added to list II of the Opium Act (Stb2009-380). In 2009 some problems occurred in the drug field which lead to discussions aboutnecessary changes and to consultations of stakeholders. Three resolutions passed theLower House of Parliament in November 2009, in which a reconsideration of legislationprocesses and the law itself was addressed:o One resolution requested the government to maximize efforts within the EU to getback jurisdiction over the legislation process in the case of prohibition of drugs(T.K. 24077-241). In reaction to this resolution, the government – the minister ofSecurity and Justice and the minister of Health, Welfare and Sport - stated in September2010 that the internationally agreed upon procedure, if implemented meticulously,is considered well-balanced and adequate with regards to the threat that126