MONITORING SYNTHETIC DRUG MARKETS, TRENDS, AND PUBLIC HEALTH

Abstract

The Drugs Information and Monitoring System (DIMS) in The Netherlands is a toxicoepidemiologic monitor of drug markets that was established in 1992. Its main focuses are to identify the compounds of synthetic drugs, describe prevalence and trends, and identify health risks. Here we discuss the insights gained in the Ecstasy market, based on the weekly testing of more than 100 drug samples, and key information of synthetic drug users delivering drug samples and personnel participating in the DIMS network. Pills used as Ecstasy may contain a wide variety of compounds. The percentage of samples containing MDMA increased slowly reaching almost 75% in 1996, but decreasing sharply in 1997. Amphetamines (“speed” and “ice”) and experimental varieties were found in at least one third of the pills. Origins and effects of this development are discussed, as well as the risk assessment. In 1998 the percentage of MDMA pills increased more than ever before, indicating among other things that consumers prefer the conventional product. However, the use of “speed” and other drugs may also be stimulated by the decrease in 1997 of the percentage of MDMA pills. With more new types of drugs likely in the next century, a monitor such as DIMS provides important surveillance and data for public health and preventive aims. [Translations are provided in the International Abstracts Section of this issue.]

• Ecstasy market
• Toxico epidemiologic surveillance
• MDMA

RESOURCES

The Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare, and Sports maintains and funds the National Drug Monitor (NDM), which focuses on illicit drugs at the national level, but also considers alcohol (and to a certain extent tobacco). The NDM includes various monitors and research related to these monitors, running in The Netherlands. Questions on which they focus are the early detection of new drug trends, monitoring patterns of substance use, the use of addiction care and assistance facilities, and demand reduction as related to illicit drugs. The program also values data out of regional monitors of reliable quality. The “Bureau NDM” assists the Ministry in coordinating these activities, by collecting and presenting the core data from these resources in a comparable way relevant to policy. For information, please contact Bureau NDM, BOX 725, 3500 AS Utrecht, The Netherlands; Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone].

At the European level the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) collects data regarding illicit drugs (a/o. epidemiology, policy, demand reduction) from the European countries and presents annual over- views. EMCDDA was founded in 1993 by the European Council as a European community information agency charged by its founding regulation to provide “objective, reliable, and comparable information at the European level concerning drugs and drug addiction and their consequences” (21, p. 133). Its tasks are divided into four categories: 1) data collection and analysis; 2) improving comparability; 3) disseminating information; and, 4) international cooperation. For more information, please contact the following: http://www.emcdda.org