The Netherlands Drug Situation 2010 - Trimbos-instituut

Table 2.3.2Prevalence of substance use among visitors of coffee shops in Amsterdamin 2010LifetimeLast month2001 2009 2001 2009Alcohol 95.6% 91.0% 88.7% 70.9%Tobacco 96.4% 89.8% 82.2% 74.0%Cannabis 97.4% 97.4% 87.9% 94.0%Cocaine 52.0% 33.6% 19.1% 5.4%Ecstasy 62.6% 41.1% 23.1% 6.0%Amphetamine 39.0% 19.6% 4.7% 1.5%GHB 12.0% 12.9% 2.8% 1.5%Hall. mushrooms 60.0% 37.5% 6.3% 0.4%LSD 29.3% 11.9% 1.8% 0.4%Heroin 8.8% 3.4% 0.9% 0%Crack 19.1% 5.7% 1.8% 0%Source: Antenna Monitor (Nabben et al., 2010).2.3.2 Other targeted groupsAmsterdam Neighbourhood and problem youthThe Amsterdam Antenne monitor also includes a qualitative panel study on neighbourhoodand problem youth (Nabben et al. 2010). These are the street youth who hang outin neighbourhoods. With regard to drug use the following observations were made: Cannabis is estimated to be smoked by some three quarters of the neighbourhoodyouth, and problem youth smoke frequently and heavily. Problem youth have more experience with cocaine and ecstasy than the commonneighbourhood youth. Among the problem youth there is a growing curiosity about GHB and some experimentationwith crack cocaine.Adolescents with a low educational levelThe National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) has recently reviewedexisting research on the link between substance use and a low educational levelamong adolescents (Schrijvers et al. 2010). The review confirms that all research pointsinto the same direction: "Low educated adolescents more often smoke cigarettes, usecannabis, drink large amounts of alcohol and start to be sexually active at a younger agethan adolescents with a higher educational level". Moreover, in low educated adolescents,"use of substances and active sexual behaviour starts at a younger age", that is, "ataround 13-14 years".Male adolescents in juvenile justice institutionsResearch in 2009 indicates that, prior to their detention or pre-trial arrest, incarceratedboys had a high level of alcohol and drug use, compared to their peers in regular education.The findings are summarized in § 9.4 and table 9.4.1.GHB users in the province of LimburgThe institute for mental health care and addiction care that is located in the north andthe middle of the province of Limburg, GGZ Noord- en Midden-Limburg, has conductedqualitative research among GHB users. By means of the method of Rapid Assessment43