Accurately assessing drug users’ risky behaviour is not straightforward. Researchers and practitioners arrive at different figures. Perhaps they are asking the wrong questions. Injecting by numbers: perception of risks (PDF)
Tag Archive for statistics
Druglink article 2001 – Running numbers: dealing with a data deluge by Dr George Christo
Drug agencies record data for a variety of reasons but once they have the data few have the statistical background to know what to do with it. Running numbers: dealing with a data deluge (PDF)
Druglink handout 2008 – The new abstentionists by Mike Ashton
Around Bonfire Night 2007 a rocket shook the peak of England’s drug treatment structure – someone asked how many patients ended up drug-free. Clothless as the fabled emperor, 3% came the reply. Bullish engagement and crime reduction claims were dismissed…
Druglink article 2007 – Bash street kids by Max Daly
The cocaine and ecstasy markets are splitting in two, with young people and students being the major consumers in an expanding industry in cheaper, lower quality products. Max Daly takes a look at the results of this year’s UK wide…
Druglink news item 2011 – Deaths by numbers by John Corkery
Is the UK really one of the major drug death capitals of the world? Well, probably in Europe. John Corkery picks apart the statistics. Deaths by numbers (PDF)
Druglink news item 2012 – Cannabis comedown by Max Daly
In July, two sets of government statistics, from the NHS and the Home Office British Crime Survey: Drug Misuse Declared (BCS), again revealed that, overall, drug use has been falling in Britain. Unsurprisingly, the findings were barely reported: if there is no scare factor to a drug…
Druglink article 2012 – Dragon’s den by Rebecca Lees
According to the official statistics, the number of problematic heroin users has fallen for the first time across the UK. Yet Swansea appears to be bucking the trend, where according to one user, it’s ‘more hassle to buy a packet of fags’ than…
Druglink article 2000 – Snowed under: Is it the real thing? by John Martin Corkery
If the UK suffered the cocaine epidemic which was reported in the 1990s the figures should reveal it. Snowed under: Is it the real thing? (PDF)
Druglink factsheet 1996 – Drug deaths
A simplified overview of what we know about deaths from drug use and how these compare to deaths caused by alcohol and tobacco. Drug deaths (PDF)
Druglink news 1996 – Addict index under threat
Despite misgivings from the ACMD, sources in the Home Office have indicated that the Addict Index will almost certainly be scrapped. Addict index under threat (PDF)