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Research report
Assessing the validity of recent estimates of problematic drug use in England
  1. M Frisher1,
  2. A Forsyth2
  1. 1
    Department of Medicines Management, Keele University, Staffordshire, UK
  2. 2
    Scottish Centre for Crime & Justice Research, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK
  1. Dr M Frisher, Senior Lecturer, Department of Medicines Management, Keele University, Staffordshire ST5 5BG, UK; m.frisher{at}keele.ac.uk

Abstract

Background: The Home Office has recently published estimates which, for the first time, provide a “robust national estimate” of the number of problematic drug users in England. The 2004/05 and 2005/06 estimates are the highest estimates ever produced for England and coincide with the highest ever government annual expenditure on combating illicit drug use.

Methods and Results: Review of a range of data sources that indicate a downward trend in problematic drug use in recent years.

Conclusions: The validity of the estimates is important for drug policy, and the paper considers the implications of both increasing and decreasing levels of problematic drug use.

https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2008.076844

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    Footnotes

    • Competing interests: Declared. MF was one of the authors of the 1996 and 2001/02 studies of problematic drug use.