National Drug Trend Monitoring System pilot study: summary report.

摘要

In 2004, in response to the objectives set out under the Programme for Government (2002) and the National Drugs Strategy regarding the identification of new drug trends - particularly the concern over the spread of heroin into new areas – research staff at the National Advisory Committee for Drugs (NACD) developed a model for a Drug Trend Monitoring System (DTMS) (see Section One, Figure 1) This model sought to bring together and contextualise data gathered through new data collection systems with data from traditional indicators and research findings, which would help identify emerging or changing patterns of drug use, unknown drug users groups, as well as regional patterns of drug use and drug markets. ududFollowing a review of the European and International literature, three new data collection mechanisms were identified which offered the most potential for identifying emerging drug trends in the Irish context; these were: ud1. a media monitoring system to monitor current drug seizures, drug-related court cases, and local drug issues around the country ud2. a network of trend monitors consisting of frontline workers from around the country to complete a twice yearly trend questionnaire on the drug situation in their area, and notify the DTMS when new trends arise ud3. a series of focus Groups with drug users to assess latest drug trends. ududDuring the second half of 2004, the NACD decided to pilot-test these three new data collection mechanisms for a six-month period to establish their potential for identifying new drug trends. This document describes the development of the DTMS model and presents an analysis of the findings.