Measures to assess drug abuse and the health, social and economic consequences of such abuse: summary of information from 21 countries. United Nations Secretariat.

This article summarizes the replies received from 21 Governments to a survey undertaken in June 1982 of measures to assess drug abuse and its consequences. A large number of programmes for the assessment of drug abuse were reported, and these were classified either as population surveys or as reporting systems of existing institutional data on drug abuse, depending on the methodology used. Each method was described as having certain advantages and limitations, which varied according to the aims of the assessment and the circumstances under which it was carried out. A well-established reporting system, which obtained data from law enforcement agencies, health services or other institutions that came into contact with drug abusers, was reported to be an effective means of assessing the consequences of drug abuse, but it provided information only on cases that were brought to the attention of the authorities. On the other hand, a survey covering, for example, the general population, students or conscripts, based on a probability sample, represented the population studied and detected cases of drug abuse that were not recorded by institutions. In many of the replies it was stated that drug abuse imposed a considerable burden on society in terms of health impairment and disabilities, as well as in terms of its social and economic consequences. Drug abuse diminished the ability and motivation of drug abusers to engage in the complex tasks required in modern society. Dropping out of school, performing poorly at work and losing employment were the most common consequences of drug abuse. It was also reported that drug abuse played an important role in the development of criminal, delinquent and anti-social behaviour.