DRUG ABUSE WARNING NETWORK - A STATISTICAL PERSPECTIVE

• NCJ Number: 53113
• Journal: Public Health Reports Volume: 91 Issue: 5 Dated: (SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1976) Pages: 395-402
• Author(s): P H PERSON JR
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 8 pages
• Corporate Author: US Dept of Health, Education, and Welfare
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; US Dept of Health, Education and Welfare
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THE DRUG ABUSE WARNING NETWORK (DAWN) DATA SYSTEM COLLECTS DRUG DATA FROM HOSPITALS, OFFICES OF CORONERS OR MEDICAL EXAMINERS, AND CRISIS INTERVENTION CENTERS. USES AND LIMITATIONS OF DAWN DATA ARE DISCUSSED.

Abstract

DAWN IDENTIFIES DRUGS CURRENTLY ABUSED IN SPECIFIC AREAS, DETERMINES EXISTING PATTERNS OF ABUSE AND ABUSE MONITORING TRENDS IN THESE AREAS, AND PROVIDES CURRENT DATA FOR ASSESSING HEALTH HAZARDS FROM ABUSE. INSTITUTIONS IN 23 U.S. CITIES REPORT DATA TO DAWN ON DRUG 'EPISODES.' REPORTERS INCLUDE INFORMATION ABOUT THE CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE EPISODE, THE DRUGS INVOLVED IN THE EPISODE, AND INFORMATION ABOUT THE PERSON INVOLVED IN THE EPISODE. DAWN DATA ARE USEFUL INDICATORS OF DRUG ABUSE, VALID MEASUREMENTS OF DRUG EPISODES IN REPORTING AREAS, SIGNALS OF THE DECREASE OR INCREASE OF DRUG USE IN AN AREA OR POPULATION GROUP, AND INDICATORS OF DRUG DEATH TOTALS IN A REPORTING AREA. THE DATA ARE MOST USEFUL FOR DRUG-SPECIFIC ANALYSIS. SOME DRUG PATTERNS AND TRENDS MAY BE IDENTIFIED USING DAWN. HOWEVER, DAWN CANNOT BE USED FOR MAKING STATEMENTS ABOUT NATIONWIDE DRUG USE, ABUSE, ADDICTION, OR DEPENDENCY. THE COVERAGE IS HAMPERED BY INCOMPLETE REPORTING. THE VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY OF THE DATA ARE DEPENDENT ON THE PROCEDURES AND MEASURES USED BY REPORTERS AND BY THEIR SKILL IN DETECTING SPECIFIC TYPES OF DRUG USE. DAWN STATISTICS ARE USEFUL ONLY IF THEY ARE NOT EXTENDED BEYOND THE SYSTEM'S CAPABILITY. REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (DAG)