Validation of a regional drug misuse database: implications for policy and surveillance of problem drug use in the uk

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Abstract
Over 80% of reports to the North Thames database come from 62 specialist drug agencies. These were categorised according to type, and a sample selected using random number tables: 3 from 8 drug dependency units, 9 from 27 statutory community based drug services, 5 from 16 non-statutory community services, 2 from 9 residential rehabilitation units, and 1 of 2 needle exchanges. Two statutory community services refused and were not replaced. A further six agencies which did not participate in the database were identified. Two were selected randomly (both non-statutory community services) and agreed to participate, making a final sample of 20 agencies (29%). A researcher visited the agencies (April-December 1995) to collect a standard dataset on everyone who attended during 1994. These were matched with individual agency reports for 1994 and then against the whole dataset in the database using initials, date of birth, sex, and, in uncertain matches, postcode, ethnic group, drug problem, and date of report.

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