The Netherlands Drug Situation 2010 - Trimbos-instituut

Figure 5.3.1: Distribution of new clients recorded from 1994 to 2009 at institutes foraddiction treatment by primary drug*100%90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%OthersCannabisEcstasyAmphetaminesCocaineOpiates10%0%1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009* Selection of clients based on the EMCDDA TDI protocol. Source: LADIS, IVZ.Figure 5.3.1 shows the following: The percentage of opiate clients among new drug clients decreased from 62% in1994 to only 19% in 2008 and 18% in 2009. The percentage of cocaine clients increasedfrom 17% in 1994 to 38% in 2003, and declined slightly thereafter to 33% in2008 and 31% in 2009. Since 2003, the proportion of cocaine clients exceeds the proportion of opiate clients. The proportion of cannabis clients increased from 14% in 1994 to 38% in 2008 and39% in 2009. When taken separately, the ecstasy and amphetamine clients never accounted formore than 6% of the new drug clients. However, the proportion of amphetamineclients increased over the past years, from 1.5% in 2001 to 6% in 2008 and 5% in2009.The shift in ratios among the primary drugs is even more visible in clients who have enteredtreatment for the first time. These first treatments reflect the incidence of drugusers seeking help, and may be a better indicator of recent developments in problemuse. Among the first treatments in 2009, the proportion of opiate clients was only 8%compared to 26% for cocaine clients and 51% for cannabis clients. The proportion of firsttreatments for amphetamines was 6%.AgeFor the different drugs, figure 5.3.2 shows the distribution over the age groups of theclients in 2009. Clients seeking treatment for problem use of opiates, are on average theoldest (42 years). Clients who have a primary problem with amphetamines (30 years),ecstasy (31 years), or cannabis (31 years) are on average the youngest.73