STATISTICS IN 2001

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Statistical Sumaries

PACARDO

Costs of Drug Abuse

Links

U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)

CAREC

Caribbean Drug Information Network (CARIDIN)
Drug Abuse Epidemiological & Surveillance System Project

In the statistics area, the Observatory’s goal is to improve the collection and analysis of drug-related data in the member states, promote the use of standardized data systems, and provide for scientific and technical training and the exchange of experiences among statisticians and researchers working on the drug problem.  The Observatory provides technical, material and financial support for the development and strengthening of national drug statistics and information systems, including customized forms, questionnaires and software developed by CICAD for the systematic gathering, analysis and reporting of drug-related statistics: CICDAT, for reporting statistics on the supply and control of illicit drugs, and SIDUC, the Inter-American Uniform Drug Use Data System, for surveys on drug use.

In 2001, in order to help member states improve their capacity to collect and analyze drug-related statistical information and to address the needs of the MEM, the Observatory carried out the following activities:              

·         Published the ninth annual Statistical Summary on Drugs using figures for the year 2000 provided by the member states.

·         Assigned users names and passwords to the National Drug Commissions to allow them access to the CICDAT on-line/off-line software CICDAT.  The new INTERNET-based software, agreed on at a technical standardization meeting of twenty-five member states in Mexico City in November 2000) is now being used by some countries, and in its initial phase, is proving a more efficient means of collecting and reporting data on drug-related arrests, crop eradication, destruction of drug laboratories, seizures of drugs and chemicals and other law enforcement data.

·         Completely revised the methodology for conducting surveys under the Inter-American Uniform Drug Use Data System (SIDUC), produced new questionnaires and a Procedures Manual for national SIDUC coordinators.

·         Organized a general meeting of national SIDUC coordinators (Dominican Republic, February 2001), at which the new SIDUC was considered and approved for use by all member states, if they so wish.

·         The reports from the first round of the MEM recommended to most member states that they endeavor to estimate the prevalence of drug use in their countries; as a result, the Inter-American Observatory has begun a program to help countries conduct periodic surveys of drug use among secondary school students.  In the second half of 2001, Belize, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela conducted surveys, and other countries will do so in the first half of 2002.  The Observatory prepared a series of instructional manuals for the various types of personnel participating in these surveys (supervisors, field staff, coordinators and data entry clerks), selected probability samples, and provided technical and financial assistance for the surveys themselves.

·       Signed an agreement with the Caribbean Epidemiology Center (CAREC), to assist, along with UNDCP, in planning and executing the Drug Abuse Epidemiological and Surveillance System Project, financed by the European Union and executed by CAREC.  This project supports the fifteen CARIFORUM member states in improving their information on drug use using the SIDUC methodology. The project, set to last for two years, began in May 2001. CICAD is providing its SIDUC methodology as the basis for the project, and is conducting the training component of this combined effort.

·   The pilot high school survey conducted by the National Drug Abuse Control Council (NDACC) in Belize, with the technical and financial support of CICAD, will serve as a model for nine other countries in the Caribbean that are planning to do similar surveys in 2002, with the coordinated support of CAREC, UNDCP and CICAD.

·   Helped the countries of Central America, Panama and the Dominican Republic complete the PACARDO drug abuse research program, which is being led by Dr. James Anthony of the Johns Hopkins University. This project, built on CICAD’s existing drug epidemiology research infrastructure, explored high concentrations or “clusters” of drug use among high school students. The U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) funded the research.  The preliminary reports were completed, and the consolidated findings are expected to be published in late 2001 or early 2002

Last updated Nov/15/01

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