The Netherlands Drug Situation 2010 - Trimbos-instituut

Most of the intoxications due to cannabis were light, only 4% of these intoxicationswere classified as severe. A salient proportion of the cannabis-intoxications took placeamong tourists.From the ecstasy-intoxications, a salient proportion (40%) took place among females.In case only ecstasy had been used, a majority of 86% of the cases were classified asa light intoxication.Compared to other drugs, intoxications by GHB were more often severe and occurredwithin a broad age range (4 to 75 years).A salient proportion of the emergencies related to cocaine were reported by policedoctors, and the intoxications due to cocaine were more often moderate or severe.Figure 6.2.1 Drug-related emergencies by type of drug (in 2009)Source: Trimbos institute (Vogels et al., 2009)Emergency departments in hospitalsThe injury information system (Letsel Informatie Systeem, LIS) of the Consumer SafetyInstitute gives information on the number of people treated annually at the emergencydepartments of hospitals. These data are derived from a representative selection of hospitalsand are extrapolated to yield national estimates. Because of the estimation methodand associated error margin data are averaged over five years. For GHB cases, a separatetrend analysis has been conducted.According to the LIS, it is estimated that 3,500 people are treated annually at a hospitalemergency department following an accident, violent incident or self-mutilation related todrug use (cp. 15,000 on account of alcohol). Forty-three percent are aged between 20 and 29 years and 73% are male. The proportion of drug-related emergencies requiring hospitalisation is relatively high(36%; cf. 18% for traffic accidents or 11% for private accidents). Poisoning is the most frequent cause of emergency (74%); 12% of all cases is due tocomplications of body-packing. Cocaine is the most frequently cited drug (32%); cannabis is involved in 17% of thecases with a known substance. Lower ratios are found for ecstasy (10%), heroin91