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Monitoring Problem Drug use in Bristol

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Julie Parker*
Affiliation:
Department of Family Psychiatry, Bristol Royal Hospital for Sick Children, currently Senior Registrar in Psychiatry, Edward Long Fox House, Weston Royal Hospital, Weston-Super-Mare
Yvonne Pool
Affiliation:
Department of Family Psychiatry, Bristol Royal Hospital for Sick Children, currently Senior Registrar in Psychiatry, Edward Long Fox House, Weston Royal Hospital, Weston-Super-Mare
Robert Rawle
Affiliation:
Bristol & Weston Health Authority
Martyn Gay
Affiliation:
Department of Family Psychiatry, Bristol Royal Hospital for Sick Children
*
St Michael's Hill, Bristol BS2 8BJ

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.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1988 

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