Breakdown of Indien je een drug gebruikt, raadpleeg de apotheker.
indien
in the event that
de apotheker
the pharmacist
raadplegen
to consult (seek advice or information)
de drug
the drug (narcotic)
Questions & Answers about Indien je een drug gebruikt, raadpleeg de apotheker.
Why does gebruikt go at the end of the first part of the sentence?
Because indien (if / in the event that) is a subordinating conjunction. Just like the more common word als (if), it forces the conjugated verb (gebruikt) to the very end of its clause.
Is there a difference between using indien and als?
Yes, but the difference is entirely about tone. Indien means the exact same thing as als, but it is much more formal. You will usually see it in written texts like official rules, legal documents, or medical leaflets, while als is used in everyday speech.
Why is there no subject like je in the second clause (raadpleeg de apotheker)?
The second clause is an imperative (a direct command). In Dutch, just like in English, commands drop the subject and start directly with the verb. If it were a normal statement instead of a command, you would use standard word order inversion after the comma: ..., raadpleeg je de apotheker.
Does een drug mean a standard medicine here?
Usually, no! In Dutch, drug almost exclusively means a recreational or illegal drug. A standard medicine is called a medicijn or geneesmiddel. This sentence is a safety warning: if you use recreational drugs, you should tell your pharmacist so they can check for dangerous interactions with your prescriptions.