DIMS Coordinating Office

Objective:

DIMS is a monitoring system for nightlife drugs. It analyses and keeps records on the chemical composition and the toxicity of nightlife drugs such as ecstasy, cocaine and amphetamines. DIMS comprises a network of addiction services throughout the Netherlands and a coordinating office at the Trimbos Institute. Users of recreational drugs can have the chemical makeup of their drugs checked at one of the DIMS-affiliated agencies. DIMS compiles the resulting data and immediately notifies all stakeholders of current changes in the recreational drugs market and of associated health risks. Whenever hazardous situations arise, immediate, targeted warnings can be made to those affected; DIMS can even launch targeted local or national warning campaigns when needed. DIMS thus fulfils an important early warning function. The purpose is to avert or minimise health problems arising from the use of illicit nightlife drugs.

Final result:

As well as making ad hoc reports about acute situations, the Drugs Information and Monitoring System (DIMS) in the Netherlands publishes two monitoring reports a year, one containing nationwide data for the previous calendar year and one covering the previous six months. It also publishes a DIMS Annual Report (Jaarbericht), a public-friendly version of the yearly data report which makes the data more accessible to non-professionals. Articles also appear at regular intervals in academic journals. DIMS is the main supplier of drugs data to the Coordination Centre for the Assessment and Monitoring of New Drugs (CAM), and it is an important source of data for the National Drug Monitor and the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA). DIMS is integrated into the European Early Warning System. It operates several websites, including drugs-test.nl and the restricted-access website dimsinfo.nl.

Start and end date:

1 January 2009 / 31 December 2009

Funding:

Netherlands Health Ministry (VWS), Nutrition, Health Protection and Prevention Department (VGP)

Contact:

Mr. dr. RJM Niesink
+31 (0)30 - 2971(171)
Contact

Secretariat:

+31 (0)30 - 2971(137)