NCJ Number
142323
Journal
Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 23 Issue: 2 Dated: (Spring 1993) Pages: 163- 361
Editor(s)
Y Hser,
M D Anglin
Date Published
1993
Length
199 pages
Annotation
This issue of 10 articles documents the current body of knowledge on prevalence estimation techniques as applied to illicit drug-using populations.
Abstract
The first article highlights the relevance of drug-use prevalence estimation to policy considerations, followed by an article that provides a technical overview of several quantitative methods for estimating the size of a drug-using population. The author discusses statistical aspects of estimation procedures that may seem arcane to a casual reader but are deemed vitally important to a complete understanding of the subject. The third article describes current nationwide sources or drug-related indicator data and discusses the suitability of data to be used in prevalence estimation efforts. Five articles illustrate applications of various prevalence-estimation techniques, including multiple-capture modeling, system dynamics modeling, and synthetic estimation. Another article summarizes problems and issues in areas identified by the preceding articles and suggests practical solutions. The authors of the final article draw conclusions based on materials presented in the issue and suggest directions for future research. It summarizes the policy needs for, the current status of, and recent developments in prevalence estimation. Overall, the articles indicate that progress has been achieved in establishing sound conceptual and methodological frameworks for the development of estimates of the size of drug-using populations and in obtaining multiple indicators for monitoring various aspects of drug- related problems. References, notes, and tables accompany articles.