The hidden population: Some methodological issues about estimation of problematic drug use:

Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs

MikaelDahlberg¹ 

关键词: Problematic drug use;    estimating prevalence;    hidden population;    case finding;    capture-recapture;    truncated Poisson;   

DOI  :  10.2478/nsad-2013-0011

学科分类：生物化学/生物物理

来源: Sage Journals

【 摘 要 】

AimThis article analyses and discusses the estimation of serious or problematic drug use through an empirical example based on a local Swedish study in Gothenburg.Methods and DataThis was a case-finding study with questionnaires directed at organisations which have contact with the target group. The material was supplemented with information from the two documentation systems DOK and ASI. A total of 2,148 reports were collected. Health care data of 1,096 individuals was also collected for analysis with the truncated Poisson method. Analyses with capture-recapture or truncated Poisson were conducted to calculate the size of the hidden population.ResultsThe statistical analyses resulted in variable numbers for the hidden population, and the total prevalence of serious drug abuse in Gothenburg is estimated to be between 2,200 and 4,400 people.ConclusionThe study shows that estimation of the presence and prevalence of problematic drug abuse involves many methodological difficulties and challenges. The signifi...

【 授权许可】

CC BY