Frequently asked questions


Is treatment at DWC covered by insurance?
  • Yes, treatment at DWC can be covered by your health insurance. If treatment is followed and compensated through the GGZ network organization 1Np the intake procedure will be altered. In that case, there may be a short waiting list. If you pay for treatment yourself, you are not obliged to inform your insurance company that you are being treated.
When are you addicted or substance dependent?
  • When you have developed a pattern of tolerance, meaning that you require more of the substance than when you started using it.
  • When you have no control over your substance use, you use more than you had intended.
  • Your substance use causes more problems than enjoyment.
  • You want to decrease use, but can’t.
  • Much of your time is lost on substance use.
  • You have withdrawal symptoms when you don’t use.
  • You continue to use, in spite of the fact that you are experiencing negative physical or psychological effects.

Does the amount used decide whether or not it’s an addiction?
  • One or more of the above mentioned symptoms can also occur in individuals that don’t use large amounts. It varies from one individual to another.

Is controlled use possible or do I have to stop completely?
  • This varies per individual, depending on your personal situation. In general, controlled use of alcohol is easier to achieve than controlled use, for example, of cocaine.

What would be considered a problem drinker?
  • About 10,3 percent of the adult population in The Netherlands is a problem drinker (more than 1 million in The Netherlands). A large portion of this group is not addicted, but have developed problems associated with alcohol. For example, health problems, (traffic) accidents, work-related problems, problems in relationships and family, and problems limiting alcohol use. Early detection of these sorts of problems make it possible, using simple interventions, to change drinking behaviour and prevent serious health risks, social problems and addiction.

Can DWC prescribe medication for me if necessary?
  • DWC will confer, if need be, with your general practitioner or can refer you to a psychiatrist for medication prescriptions.

Is there a waiting list?
  • No, in general treatment can start within a few days.

Why do I need to show identification when I start treatment at DWC?
  • DWC has a home-based practice. We need to be sure that a client is who he/she says they are.

Is anonymous treatment possible?
  • Anonymous sessions are possible, but only as a telephone (webcam) consult. These sessions are brief and contain specific questions about problems that can be clearly laid out. Sessions need to be paid for in advance.

Is my privacy guaranteed?
  • DWC is a medical practice. It follows a professional obligation to maintain medical confidentiality.

Is an admission always necessary?
  • No, in most cases an admission is not necessary. There is a good possibility that individual counseling will be able to treat your substance use successfully. In your first intake session a plan of treatment and the expected number of sessions will be discussed with you.

Is admission a possibility?
  • For an admission DWC works with public addiction care centers. DWC can mediate and possibly decrease the waiting time. If you would prefer admission in a foreign clinic, DWC can refer you to Castle Craig in Scotland. An admission there will only be covered by your insurance if you have already had a previous admission in The Netherlands.

Do I need to inform my employer that I am receiving treatment from DWC?
  • No, it is not necessary to inform your employer and in general, not advisable.