REGADO96 Prevalence

Bureau Bêta Home page

8 Prevalence

8.1 The Amsterdam cohort study of HIV infection and AIDS among drug users


Area Health Authority (GGGD) Amsterdam

Dr. E.J.C. van Ameijden.

Startdate: December 1985. Duration: 14 years.

Description / Goal:

To study the incidence, risk factors and natural history of HIV infection and AIDS in drug users.

Research questions:

8.2 WHO-Cocaine project


Intraval

Drs. B. Bieleman, drs. C. ten Den, & drs. E. de Bie.

Startdate: September 1993. Duration: 18 months.

Description / Goal:

To prepare a country profile on cocaine in the Netherlands.

Research questions:

Results:

Cocaine use is observed in every social class and stratum in The Netherlands. It is a drug with different facets and is far less sharply defined than heroin. Any cocaine prevention policy will be inevitably less straightforward than a heroin policy, since it will need to reflect the multifold character of the user population. This means that prevention efforts need to be targeted: Each social stratum needs a different prevention message. It is advisable for intervention and prevention to be oriented towards the lifestyles rather than the drug itself. Prevention needs to be of different forms and directed specifically towards the individual situations of the different risk groups.

It is clear that when referring to cocaine, we must differentiate between two more or less distinctive drugs depending on the way of use. Sniffing frequently takes place in a socially integrated setting, without too much personal or social inconvenience. Basing and injecting are practices associated with lifestyles with a high risk of cocaine problems. The chance of a user becoming addicted by injecting or basing is quite high. The same holds for the use of ‘gekookte coke’, the Dutch equivalent of crack, a way of use that is becoming more and more popular among polydrug users.

8.3 An inventory of hard drugs and criminality in the Netherlands


Intraval

Drs. B. Bieleman, drs. E. de Bie, drs. J. Snippe, & drs. L. Schakel .

Startdate: December 1994. Duration: 3 months.

Description / Goal:

To gain insight into the number of hard drug users in the Netherlands and the relationship with criminality.

Research questions:

Results:

In order to ascertain the size of the total population of opiate users, three estimates were used. Combination of these three led to a minimum estimate of 28,000 opiate users in the Netherlands.

By reference to information from five municipalities, it was estimated that drug users are responsible for at least one third of the solved criminal incidents in the Netherlands.

Assuming the minimum estimate of 28,000 opiate users, it was estimated that at least 11,750 were criminal, while at least 6,200 can be placed in the category of frequent offenders.

8.4 Risky lifestyles in Rotterdam


Addiction Research Institute Rotterdam, Erasmus University Rotterdam  (IVO)

Drs. I.M.B. Bongers, dr. ing. J.A.M. van Oers,  dr. L.A.M. van de Goor, &  prof. dr. H.F.L. Garretsen.

Startdate: June 1994. Duration: 4 years.

Description / Goal:

The purpose of the study is threefold. Firstly, insight will be gained into the prevalence of excessive drinking and problem drinking in the general population of Rotterdam in 1994 (repeated measurement of 1980-1981) and into (changes of) related factors. Secondly, attention is given to prevalence of other risky life-styles like smoking, gambling, tranquilizer and cannabis use. The clustering and factors related to the prevalence of these (clustered) life-styles is assessed. Thirdly, insight is gained into the relation between socioeconomic status and the prevalence of risky life-styles, both separately and clustered.

Results:

A combination of drinking and smoking is by far most prevalent: Among almost one third of the population. In addition, the combinations of drinking, smoking and ever-cannabis use (12%) and drinking, smoking and playing the slot-machine (7%) are the most prevalent combinations of three ‘risky’ lifestyles.

Furthermore, insight is gained into helpseeking behavior of problem drinkers. Results show that 7.9% of problem drinkers in the community have at some time sought help for alcohol-related problems. Severe alcohol-related health problems and social problems were the most important triggers for requesting help. After controlling for need for help, married and highly educated problem drinkers were underrepresented in the help-seeking group. Another important finding is that half of the problem drinkers did not know of agencies or people who could offer help for alcohol-related problems.

8.5 The rise and fall of the heroin epidemic in the city of Amsterdam


Municipal health service (GG&GD) Amsterdam Department of EDG

M.C.A. Buster & G.H.A. van Brussel.

Startdate: July 1996. Duration: 9 months.

Description / Goal:

To describe the heroin epidemic of Amsterdam and predict the future development of it.

Research questions:

Results:

The decreasing number of clients of methadone maintenance programmes, the high increase of average age and the development of the age distribution suggest that the heroin problem of today is a heritage of the seventies and eighties and is slowly decreasing. Data of arrested drug users verifies this conclusion. However, the demand of clients on methadone programmes remains stable because of increasing patient-compliance.  

8.6 Drug and alcohol use in trauma patients with injuries due to suicide attempts and automutulation


Academic Hospital Department of Surgery

Dr. J. Kingma.

Startdate: January 1994. Duration: Open ended.

Description / Goal:

To investigate the prevalence and incidence rates of patients with injuries due to suicide attempts and automutulation who attended the emergency room of the University Hospital in the period 1970-1993 and their alcohol and drug consumption.

Research questions:

8.7 Repeated victimization and the use of alcohol and drugs


Academic Hospital Department of Surgery

Dr. J. Kingma.

Startdate: 1995. Duration: Open ended.

Description / Goal:

To identify those persons who are prone to become involved repeatedly in accidents of violence.

Research questions:

8.8 Continuous health interview survey


Statistics Netherlands (CBS)

H. Swinkels.

Startdate: January 1981. Duration: In principal unlimited duration.

Description / Goal:

To give a complete (as possible) picture of the trends in health, medical consumption and aspects of life style of the Dutch population.

8.9 Smoking among adults


Dutch Foundation on Smoking and Health (STIVORO)

B. Baan & M.A. Wiebing.

Startdate: Yearly. Duration: Continous.

Description / Goal:

To gain insight into the smoking behavior of the Dutch population of 15 years and older, and the development of the smoking behavior over time.

Research questions:

What is the smoking and cessation behavior, by sex, age, age by sex, district, and socio-economical status?

Depending on actual topics, there may be additional questions regarding:

Results:

In 1995 35% of the population did smoke, 16% was ex-smoker, and 49% had never smoked.

8.10 Smoking among youngsters


Dutch Foundation on Smoking and Health (STIVORO)

B. Baan & M.A. Wiebing.

Startdate: Yearly. Duration: 2 months.

Description / Goal:

To gain insight into the smoking behavior of the Dutch population from 10 to 19 years, and the development of the smoking behavior over time.

Research questions:

What is the smoking and cessation behavior, by sex, age, age by sex, district, school type, and profession of father?

Depending on actual topics, there may be additional questions regarding:

Results:

In 1996 31% of the population did smoke in the last 4 weeks. 54% reported they had smoked at least once in lifetime. 23 % smoked daily.

8.11 Smoking, drinking, drug use, and gambling among special groups of pupils


Trimbos Institute: Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction

Drs. W.M. de Zwart & drs. C. Mensink.

Startdate: December 1996. Duration: 18 months.

Description / Goal:

To measure the use of tobacco, alcohol, drugs and the amount of gambling among pupils attending schools for special education.

Research questions:

8.12 Statistics on alcohol, tobacco, drugs and gambling


Trimbos Institute: Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction

Drs. W.M. de Zwart & drs. C. Mensink. Duration: Continously.

Description / Goal:

Documentation of statistical information from The Netherlands and Flanders on alcohol, tobacco, drugs, and gambling.