Pros and cons of an illicit drug users' registration system by means of judicial data in Flanders (Belgium)

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the advantages and shortco mings of a new kind of registration of illicit drug users in Flanders, Belg ium. Data about the profile of drug users who have come into contact with the la w were collected by examining the records kept by the District Courts. On t he one hand, published data on illicit drug users in Flanders are scarce. O n the other hand, a lot of unused judicial information is available. All Di strict Courts in Flanders (n = 13) and Brussels (n = 1) participated in the study. The data show that a simple registration of verbalised drug users with a sh ort questionnaire can provide useful information for prevention campaigns a nd police investigation and shows the importance of prevention programmes s tarting at school. Notwithstanding some shortcomings, the illicit drug user s' registration system by means of judicial data in Flanders forms a solid basis upon which an integrated registration of illicit drug use can be buil t.