title: Monitoring problem drug use in Bristol.
abstract: A prospective multi-agency survey of problem drug use associated with illicit drugs and solvents in the city of Bristol in 1984-1985 found 759 problem drug users, giving a period prevalence rate of 0.4-0.8% of those aged 10-44 years. The group was a young one, with 92% under the age of 35. Over half had problems associated with opiates, mainly illicit heroin; 17% had problems associated with solvents, 9% with cannabis, 13% with stimulants, mainly illicit amphetamine, and 3% with hallucinogens. There was little indication of problematic use of barbiturates or cocaine. The problems associated with drugs and solvents were wide-ranging and not specific for individual drugs. Future community surveys would find it cost-effective to concentrate on the five best sources identified here, and to supplement these with indications of drug-taking among teenagers. The difficulties of using the definition of problem drug use for research and the value of case-register surveys for community drug monitoring are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Psychiatry, Bristol Royal Hospital for Sick Children.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parker
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pool
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rawle
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gay
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002648:Child; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D002189:Marijuana Abuse / Q000453:epidemiology; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D012997:Solvents; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D012997:Solvents