Risk Behaviour and Dependency

The second Addiction programme is called Risk Behaviour and Dependency Programme and runs from 2006 to 2010. ‘Dependency’ refers to addiction to substances such as drugs and alcohol. ‘Risk behaviour’ is conduct that may lead to substance dependency as well as to other adverse outcomes, such as truancy or antisocial behaviour. The programme focuses on behaviour that characterizes abuse and dependency, not on the toxic effects of drugs. The primary emphasis is problematic cocaine, cannabis and polydrug use in relation to other risk behaviour.

The Risk Behaviour and Dependency Programme will identify key factors that influence the onset, course and chronicity of substance dependency. It will unravel the interactions between the internal and external factors that underlie addiction, and develop and implement prevention and treatment methods based on that knowledge. The programme thus embraces the full innovation cycle, linking knowledge development, synthesis, translation, dissemination, implementation and evaluation. 

A budget of € 13 million is available for this programme. It is funded by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, the Ministry of Justice, ZonMw and the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO).