title: Using population screening for recruitment of young adults engaged in illicit drug use: methodological issues and sampling outcomes.
abstract: Social stigma, legal sanctions and the associated lack of sampling frames create barriers to the probabilistic sampling of those engaged in a variety of behaviour, including illicit drug use. We used a novel sampling approach to recruit respondents into a longitudinal study examining amphetamine-type stimulant use. A young adult population was screened for lifetime drug use to create a sampling frame of amphetamine-type stimulant users and non-users. We posted 12,118 screening questionnaires to a random selection of young adults listed on the electoral roll for Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Australia (N=107,275). Using a small pre-paid incentive and intensive telephone and postal reminders we attained a screening response rate of 49.9%. Eligible amphetamine-type stimulant users (used ecstasy or methamphetamine⩾3 times in past 12 months) and non-users (never used ecstasy or methamphetamine) were identified by screening responses. About two-thirds of each selected group took part in the longitudinal study. Comparisons with large-scale population survey data suggest the sample was broadly representative of young adult amphetamine-type stimulant users in Australia.
authors.affiliation: Queensland Alcohol and Drug Research and Education Centre, School of Population Health, The University of Queensland, Herston Rd, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia; Drug Harm Reduction Branch, Health Protection Directorate, Queensland Health, Division of the Chief Health Officer, Butterfield St, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia. Electronic address: a.smirnov@uq.edu.au.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smirnov
authors.affiliation: Drug Harm Reduction Branch, Health Protection Directorate, Queensland Health, Division of the Chief Health Officer, Butterfield St, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kemp
authors.affiliation: Crime and Misconduct Commission, North Tower Green Square, St. Pauls Terrace, Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006, Australia.
authors.forename: Helene
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.affiliation: Crime and Misconduct Commission, North Tower Green Square, St. Pauls Terrace, Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006, Australia.
authors.forename: Margot
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Legosz
authors.affiliation: Queensland Alcohol and Drug Research and Education Centre, School of Population Health, The University of Queensland, Herston Rd, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia; School of Social Science, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia.
authors.forename: Jake M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Najman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D000662:Amphetamines; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D018579:Patient Selection; D035842:Research Subjects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000662:Amphetamines; D013287:Illicit Drugs
keywords: Ecstasy (MDMA); Illicit drug use; Methamphetamine; Population screening; Probabilistic sampling