Scottish Drug Misuse Database

About the Scottish Drug Misuse Database

The Scottish Drug Misuse Database offers a profile of the misuse of drugs, based on anonymous information about new problem drug users (see Definitions, Annex 1) seen at a broad range of services across Scotland.

Services contributing to the Database consist mainly of specialist drug services (statutory and non-statutory) and general practice. Annex 2, contains a list of the specialist drug services contributing to the Database during the period covered by this publication (1 April 1998 - 31 March 1999). Annex 3 presents copies of the data collection forms (SMR22 and SMR23).

Area of treatment and area of residence

This publication presents health board and council area data from the Database based both on the location of the agency or practice providing the service (Tables 1 - 28) and, for the first time, based on the area of residence of the patients/clients attending services (Tables 29 - 47). The method used to derive area of residence is described on page 76.

Understanding the data

It should be noted that in the Database analyses for 1998/99 (as for 1997/98), individuals have been included only once within each health board or council area. Where data is presented at a Scotland level, individuals are also counted only once.

This publication also includes revised figures for 1995/96, 1996/97 and 1997/98. This takes account of a change in the selection criteria with regard to penal establishment inmates.

Further details on the basis of the Database figures and their limitations are given in Annex 5.

Advice on the validity of any comparison can be obtained from ISD.

Acknowledgements

The co-operation and assistance of the staff at all services contributing to the Scottish Drug Misuse Database are gratefully acknowledged.

Thanks are also given to Marion Hall and Isy MacEachern for their efforts in dealing with the increasing volume of data entry.

Contact

Elaine Parry (Senior Health Information Scientist) 0131 551 8715