The study applied several multiple-capture models to drug treatment data and the synthetic estimation method to arrestee data to provide separate estimates for cocaine, heroin, amphetamine, and intravenous drug users. The data sources selected for the application collect information on drug use by people in treatment programs and by arrestees. Although limited in coverage, these data are sufficient to support estimation of important subpopulations of illicit drug users. An overview of methodologies, related data sources, analytic strategies, and the estimation techniques that were applied to these data is presented. The analysis indicates that the most widespread drug problem in Los Angeles County is cocaine use. One policy implication is that much more treatment capacity is required, given the significant discrepancy in the number of clients actually served in drug treatment and the estimated numbers of those in need of treatment. Further analysis of the data indicates that the treatment system also disproportionately missed many intravenous users of cocaine and amphetamine. Methodologies similar to those presented in this article can be applied to obtain information for other categories of drug users that are of special interest, such as drug-using pregnant women or adolescents. 4 tables, 1 figure, 3 notes, and 16 references
POPULATION ESTIMATION OF ILLICIT DRUG USERS IN LOS ANGELES COUNTY
NCJ Number
142331
Journal
Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 23 Issue: 2 Dated: (Spring 1993) Pages: 323- 334
Date Published
1993
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This article describes the application of several methods to obtain population estimates of illicit drug users in Los Angeles County.
Abstract