title: Surveys that work and what they show in Mexico.
abstract: The drug abuse epidemiologic research program in Mexico does not differ from programs in other countries. At the same time some special features of the problem in Mexico influence the type of research undertaken, especially studies which help orient official policy. These features are related to the prevailing conceptions of drug abuse, the characteristics of the problem, the infrastructure available for conducting research, and human and economic resources. This paper includes a discussion of the conceptions of drug abuse and a description of the research strategies that have been used in Mexico over the past 15 years, their advantages, disadvantages and perspectives for the future, which are again linked to the characteristics of the problem and the available resources.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemiology and Social Science, Mexican Institute of Psychiatry, D.F.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Medina-Mora
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D003625:Data Collection; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D015276:Health Care Rationing; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012107:Research Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control