NCJ Number
123247
Journal
Drug Link Volume: 5 Issue: 2 Dated: (March/April 1990) Pages: 10-12
Date Published
1990
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The British Department of Health has instructed regional health authorities (RHA's) to establish drug abuse databases and recommended they adopt the system used in the North West region.
Abstract
This new Drug Misuse Database will overcome many of the problems of existing statistics by providing a means of routinely monitoring the numbers and profiles of persons who attend a range of services with a wide range of drug-related problems. The Drug Data Pack to be provided each region has everything required to set up a basic version of the database operated in the North West. It provides guidelines on implementation, templates for the data collection sheets, detailed notes on coding and avoiding double-counting, and the software package itself along with an operating manual. The hardware must be provided by the user. Information can be retrieved through preprogrammed summary tables covering age/sex, employment, and main drug and total drug profile, including percentages known to be injecting and average ages. Records are anonymous and cover most drugs. For evaluation purposes, the database describes only part of the total drug-related work done by drug teams, agencies, or doctors. Nonclient work such as liaison, training, etc., must be assessed by other means.