......”The picture given of the degree of use and resulting problems of cannabis varied amongst people I spoke to. The decriminalisation policy has often been supported on the basis of decreased use and lack of problems in recent years.
However, some youth workers I met did not share this view. They pointed to increased, sometimes excessive use amongst some groups of young people, resulting in problems of inactivity, insecurity, paranoia and lack of motivation. Again in contrast to Britain, there was little evidence of LSD or amphetamine use amongst young people However, cocaine was seen as a growing problem, but there was little concern over crack and the avoidance of a panic reaction over this substance was refreshing.
Other aspects of problematic drug use, especially those falling short of full scale dependence, are not easily tackled. This is of particular relevance to the situation for young people who may be using substances other than opiates, may not be dependent as such and do not see themselves as ‘addicts’. Such young people are not easily catered for within the mainstream Dutch system, making early interyention work difficult. The Dutch have made some inroads in this area, as will be described later, but work with young people who experience drug problems is seen by many of the workers I met as an area that needs urgent development.”.......
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