The Netherlands Drug Situation 2010 - Trimbos-instituut

than 200 clients have entered via the internet, of whom more than 85% came from regionsoutside Amsterdam. Amongst the inscriptions were 33% women, while nationalstatistics shows a 22% participation rate. Based on these statistics, the Jellinek recentlystarted the first special clinic for female clients for this treatment. 1 Notwithstanding theapparent enthusiasm for this treatment, the amount of evidence for the effectiveness ofthis treatment model is still considered troublesome (Cook 1988;Slaymaker et al. 2008).Home-based treatmentIn two locations of a regional organization of addiction care in the North-eastern part ofthe Netherlands, facilities have been created for home-based treatment. The target is toreduce relapses by offering crisis intervention and after care. A team of 11 professionalshas been set up for treating a group of patients during crisis situations or when consideredappropriate for other reasons. This team includes a medical doctor, a nurse, and apsychologist or a psychiatrist. Home-based treatment services will be expanded to otherlocations in the future. 2Online therapySimilar to mental health care via the internet, (self-help) treatment programs for addictioncare are offered more and more via the internet by four regional organizations. Thisis done without mutual cooperation and in different ways. 3 Clients can choose for onlinetreatment according to their own preferences. The effectiveness of these online treatmentprogrammes in most cases is not or not sufficiently reported yet, but by offeringthese online treatment programmes, treatment centres react on hidden needs amongthose with problems due to substance use. Nonetheless, effect studies on the treatmentof alcohol and drug problems via the internet are forthcoming.More recently the number of interactive internet therapies ('therapy online') has beenincreasing. This type of online treatment offers personal feedback and direct contact witha therapist, for example via a chat service. Currently the effectiveness of these variantsis being explored in a 3-group RCT, comparing online self help, online interactive treatmentand no treatment (waiting list group). The ultimate question is whether interactionwith a therapist is more effective. Chat data are collected in order to enable analysis ofthe therapeutic contacts. The around 200 treatment seekers with alcohol problems arepre-tested, and post-tested via a 6-months follow-up (Blankers et al. 2007). The resultsof this study may be useful for treating problems with the use of illicit drugs.From 14 to 16 October 2009, the First International E-Mental Health Summit was heldin Amsterdam (Trimbos Institute 2009). At this Summit, "experts presented the resultsof the most recent evidence-based developments, research studies and implementationprojects". Some highlights from the Summit are the following: At the institute for addiction care Brijder, already 15% of the new clients receive onlinetreatment (Meijnckens et al. 2009). Internet-based self-help for problem cannabis use does reduce the consumption ofcannabis, but the effect is small. The intervention modules require more diversity(Blankers 2009). The self-help website addressing the question What do you want with weed?(www.watwiljijmetwiet.nl) qualifies as an evidence-based intervention for adolescents1www.jellinekminnesota.nl2 www.vnn.nl3 See www.cannabisenik.nl; www.webzorg.nl; www.benzodebaas.nl; cannabisondercontrole.nl;www.watwiljijmetwiet.nl; drugsondercontrole.nl; JellinekLive; www.webzorg.nl68