Antenna Amsterdam

Antenna is an annual monitor which keeps close track of the developments in drug and alcohol use in Amsterdam. Qualitative and quantitative data create a differentiated picture of trends and patterns in substance use amongst adolescents and young adults in Amsterdam.

A panel study forms the core component of Antenna. Its main purpose is to keep tabs on nighttime entertainment scenes, with a primary focus on the trend-setters in a wide range of club and party scenes. The panel members from the club scene are innovative, critical consumers who instinctively understand the fleeting nature of trends.

The panel study is a qualitative method that produces no exact figures. Our annual survey, on the other hand, delivers quantitative data about substance use. Each year we focus on a specific group of young people. In the past years, we have repeatedly surveyed secondary school pupils, pubgoers, clubbers, cannabis coffeeshop patrons and young clients of the youth services. Other statistics are obtained from sources we call substance use ‘prevention indicators'. These provide secondary or selective information on the alcohol and drugs market.

Trendwatch

Trendwatch is a national monitor registering the latest developments and trends in the use of alcohol and drugs, within the cultural context of the Dutch nightlife and specific (sub)scenes. To be able to understand the dynamics of drug use within youth (sub)cultures, we emphasize the coherence between the preference for a certain type of music and drug use.

The monitor contains information on a local, regional as well as a national level. Information is gathered by conducting qualitative research. We have two panels of informants whom we contact periodically. All of our informants are either personally or professionally active in the Dutch nightlife and/or know and work with its visitors. The members of the first panel are specialists on a national level. The second panel provides information on a more local level.

Cannabis Dependence

The focus in this longitudinal study is on the natural course of frequent cannabis use and cannabis dependence. Main goals are to achieve insights into:

1) the natural course of frequent cannabis use, including factors predicting stability and recovery from cannabis dependence

2) the dynamics underlying transitions in cannabis use and -dependence

3) factors (predictors) involved in the transition from risky cannabis use to cannabis dependence en vice versa, including factors related to treatment seeking

Data collection started in September 2008, whereupon a group of 600 frequent cannabis users will be followed for three years. Besides, several (qualitative) substudies are part of this study. This PhD thesis is expected in 2013, in the meantime several papers will be published in international, peer-reviewed journals.

Crack Dependence in The Netherlands

Cocaine, particularly in its base form ('crack'), has become one of the drugs of most concern in the Netherlands, being associated with a wide range of medical, psychiatric and social problems.

The present study proposes to investigate a sample of 1,000 crack dependent addictusers, in the largest, most problematic and marginalized sub-population of cocaine users - those who use crack cocaine: the prevalence of crack dependence in the three largest Dutch cities, and - both in crack dependent patients and non-patients - their patterns of use, associated health and social problems, treatment experiences and treatment needs. Also their,  attitude towards and interest in new, potentially effective abstinence or harm reduction oriented pharmacological treatments for cocaine dependence, and the possibilities and problems associated with their actual implementation.

Different methods are used and compared to estimate the size of the crack dependent population

Flevomonitor

By order of the municipality of Almere the Bonger Institute is developing the Flevomonitor. This annual monitor is designed to provide local authorities, regions and institutions a better insight into the current situation and recent developments about vulnerable groups: addicts, homeless people and victims of domestic violence. Data are gathered from social assistence, ambulent care and treatment facilities, shelters and other projects aiming at the target groups systematically.

The ‘weed pass’ and the underground retail cannabis market

In March 2012, the Bonger Institute started a two-year project (subsidized by the WODC, Dutch Ministry of Security and Justice)to study the developments in the underground retail cannabis market after the introduction of the members-only clubmodel and the resident-criterion for coffee shops (the ‘weed pass’). In 14 Dutch cities local experts will be interviewed and a survey amongst cannabis users is to be carried out at three moments in time, before and after the new policy is introduced. Furthermore, a cohort of 200 cannabis users will be longitudinally followed and ethnographic field study will be conducted in four of the cities.