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

Scottish Drug Misuse Database
Table B1.14 collects information on the main prescribed drug.
Main prescribed drug
The prescription drug relating to the treatment of the main illicit drug. This may not be the drug
used most frequently or in the largest quantities.
Tables B1.15 to B1.20 and B1.23 Age profiles
The SDMD collects information on the age of the individual at different points of their drug use: age when first
used an illicit drug, age at onset of problem and age when (professional) help was sought. The time lags
between these ages provide an indication of the lengths of time between first use, onset of problem and
seeking help.
Services & Treatment
Tables B1.21 to B1.30 Routes of use and sharing behaviour
Information on injecting and sharing behaviour is collected by the SDMD because of the serious health
implications. All patients/clients are asked whether they have either injected in the past month prior to
attending the service or have ever injected. Similar questions are asked regarding sharing needles/syringes and
sharing spoons/water/filters/solutions to find out if the individual has either used equipment already used by
someone else or lent equipment to other people after using it themselves.
Table B1.31 Blood borne viruses
Information on whether or not an individual has been tested for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or HIV.
Table B1.32 Alcohol consumption
Following the introduction of the SMR25 form in April 2006 the SDMD collects information on alcohol
consumption. This is only completed for persons who have presented to a service for drug misuse.
Tables B1.33, B1.38 and B1.40 to B1.42 Social information
The personal circumstances of the drug user seeking treatment or advice from services can influence the
individual's motivation for seeking help and the extent to which the service can contribute to a change in drug
taking behaviour. Information on employment status, current living arrangements and accommodation and
the individual's current legal status are each potentially relevant factors and are collected by the SDMD.
Table B1.34 to B1.37 Source of funding and amount spent
The SDMD collects information both on how individuals fund their drug use and how much they spend in a
‘typical’ drug using day on each illicit drug they have listed.
Table B1.39 Dependent children
This provides information on persons with children (both biological and non-biological) who are dependent on
the client.
Table B1.43 SMR25a Forms received
This table presents information on all attendances reported by contributing services i.e. all valid forms received.
All other tables present information on the numbers of new individual patients/clients. Some of these
individuals will have been included more than once on the SDMD if they have been in contact with more than
one service during the reporting period.
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Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland 2007