The Netherlands Drug Situation 2010 - Trimbos-instituut

Table 6.2.2: Information requests related to drugs at the National Poisons InformationCentre2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009Ecstasy 164 194 184 208 246 217 183 171 185 140(meth)amphetamines 42 39 39 47 51 128 106 94 125 106Cocaine 150 184 217 247 227 254 211 231 255 238Cannabis 71 129 141 144 191 202 186 178 168 204GHB/GBL 91 174 194 212 190 241 203 202 218 273Opiates* 51 42 95 112 112 129 32 47 74 52Ephedra 16 28 61 110 127 67 55 26 28 24Hall.mushrooms 34 58 49 65 52 62 67 68 62 19Other (smart shop)products37 56 43 65 89 83 103 10397 102Total drugs 656 904 1,023 1,210 1,285 1,383 1,146 1,120 1,212 1,158*Due to a change in registration: since 2006 methadone is not counted in the group of illicit drugs but in thegroup of medicines. Source: NVIC, RIVM (Van Velzen et al., 2010).6.2.2 Drugs and drivingIn previous national reports, findings from experimental studies on the effects of drugson driving performance and epidemiological studies on drugs and accident risk have beendescribed. In 2008/2009 a pilot has been conducted by the police to test the feasibility ofusing saliva drug tests as a (pre)selection device in the criminal investigation of drivingunder the influence of drugs (Kuijten 2009). Four types of saliva tests, which were proposedby the DRUID project, were tested. During the pilot, cannabis was the predominantdrug detected; other drugs like amphetamine, cocaine, opiates and benzodiazepines,were hardly found. In general, false positives were rare, but false negative findingswere more common (comparing either saliva screener/saliva laboratory analysis orsaliva screener/blood analysis). It was nonetheless concluded that the predictive value ofthese screening devices in detecting driving under the influence of drugs was acceptableand the procedure was deemed feasible.At the same time a committee has given advice on the cut-off levels of illegal drugs inblood, above which it could be reasonably assimed that driving performance would beimpaired (in non-tolerant subjects) (Adviescommissie Grenswaarden voor drugs, 2010).Following the pilot study and advice the Ministers of Security and Justice and Transporthave prepared an amendment to the road Traffic Act (see § 1.1).6.2.3 Psychiatric co-morbidityAs described in previous National reports drug use disorders are commonly associatedwith other mental health disorders. Research in the past years focused on cannabis andmental health.Findings from an analysis of data from a continuous general population survey by StatisticsNetherlands (CBS) suggested an association between using cannabis and having psychologicalproblems (Knoops 2010). For the period 2007-2009, it was found that 4%from the population aging 15 through 64 years had used cannabis during the pastmonth. Mental health was assessed by means of the Mental Health Inventory 5 (MHI-5).94