Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland 2007 - Drug Misuse Information ...

Scottish Drug Misuse Database
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Thirty-five per cent of individuals reporting heroin use reported taking it through injection only. Fifteen
per cent reported administering the drug both by injection and by another method (e.g. smoking) (Table
B1.24).
Alcohol profile
Patients/clients who present at a service for drug misuse are also asked to give details of their alcohol consumption,
although it should be noted that this section is only completed for clients who have presented to a service for drug
misuse.
■ Forty-four per cent of individuals reported having consumed alcohol in the past month (5,411
individuals) (Table B1.32).
■ Approximately a quarter of individuals (27%) who provided information on frequency of consumption
reported drinking alcohol every day, a further 26% reported drinking alcohol one to two days a week
and 14% reported drinking alcohol two to three days a month (Table B1.32).
Background Information
The Scottish Drugs Misuse Database (SDMD) offers a profile of drug misusers based on reports submitted on
individuals who attended a service for assessment of their drug misuse problems. These reports are taken at the
time the patient/client initially attends a service.
Data Collection
The analysis presented in this section is based on data collected through SMR25a returns. Annex B1.3 includes
a sample copy of the form. In April 2006 ISD introduced the SMR25a assessment form to replace the SMR24
form which had been in use from 2001. The revised form reflects the need for more in-depth and focussed
information on clients who present for treatment. The new dataset incorporates most of the information that
was collected using SMR24 but also includes new information, including blood borne virus testing information,
information on dependent children and alcohol profile. The SMR25a form is completed at the beginning of an
individual’s care episode.
There have been a number of changes which mean that data submitted through SMR25a forms is not directly
comparable with previously published analysis of SMR24 data. Firstly, services submit a form only for a client
beginning a new episode of care, and therefore do not submit forms for clients who have been referred from
another service. Also, General Practitioners do not submit the new SMR25a form but continue to submit
SMR24 forms. General Practitioner data is not included in this analysis. These changes were required in order
to prepare for future data collection developments (see Data Developments below) These differences in data
collection mean that information is presented for the financial year 2006/07 only. These figures are not directly
comparable with information previously published from the SDMD.
Services & Treatment
Data Developments
The SMR25a form currently collects data at the beginning of an individual’s care episode. Developments are
underway to collect further information at set points in an individuals treatment and to collect discharge and
transfer data. This will mean that clients can be tracked across time and, if they are transferred or receive shared
care, across drug services. These developments aim to provide a greater depth of information on clients’
pathways through treatment.
Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland 2007
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