The Netherlands Drug Situation 2010 - Trimbos-instituut

Figure 6.1.1 Age distribution at HIV diagnosis in IDUs compared to MSM and heterosexuals,up to 2009Source: RIVM (Vriend et al., 2010).b. A cross sectional serosurvey in male detainees in the South of the Netherlands. Thisstudy aimed to ascertain the seroprevalence of and risk behaviour for HIV, hepatitis Band C among detainees (Schreuder and Van Veen, 2010; Schreuder et al. 2010). It wasthe second step to describe the local situation in the South of the Netherlands with regardto the prevalence of drug related infectious diseases among IDUs. The first step hadbeen an inventory of treatment data from the local addiction care institute (Mondriaan),which has been described in the previous National Report. In summary, based on the(incomplete) treatment data available for 197 injecting and non-injecting drug userssince 2003, the HIV prevalence among drug users in treatment was estimated at 9%. Togain insight in the population not in treatment (second step), it was thought most feasibleto study a prison population. From previous surveys it was known that the majority ofdrug users ever was imprisoned (88% of drug users participating in the Rotterdam survey2002/2003 and 75% of drug users in the Heerlen survey 1999). In total 229 male prisoners were included (78% of the total prison population). Thestudy questionnaire was filled in by 226 persons. The median age of the study populationwas 31 years and 78% of the respondents were 40 years of age or younger(note that in the Netherlands the (I)DU population is aging and many are around theage of 40 years). Hard drugs were ever used by 123 detainees (54%) and 36% of the respondents alsohad used drugs during this stay in prison, but this was mainly marihuana. Ever usingmethadone was reported by 37 persons and 29 used methadone in the past 12months, either prescribed from the medical service in prison (19 of 29) and/or fromthe addiction care (12 of 29). Injecting drugs was rare in this sample, as only 19 detainees (8%) reported that theyhad ever done so. The mean age of first injecting was 21 years. Four drug users reportedinjecting in the last year. Receptive needle or syringe sharing was reported by7 drug users. Injecting in prison was very rare.81