Seminar on the Estimation of Problematic Substance Use (2009)

Seminar on Prediction of Problematic Substance Use (PDU) (11-12 November 2009)

The problematic substance use (PDU) indicator is a main indicator that collects data on the prevalence and incidence of problem substance use at national and local level. According to the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), PDU is defined as the use of intravenous substance or long-term / regular use of opioids, cocaine and / or amphetamines. The prevalence of problem drug use is one of the five main epidemiological indicators used by the EMCDDA to monitor different aspects of substance use in the European Union. This indicator measures a certain substance use pattern rather than the health or social consequences of substance use and focuses on more problematic substance use patterns that cause the most damage to the individual and society such as heroin or intravenous substance use. In this context, the PDU main indicator collects information on more problematic substance use patterns that are not effectively addressed by other indicators. The aim of this main indicator is to measure the prevalence of problematic and intravenous substance use at local and national levels in Europe and other regions in a reliable and comparable manner. This 2-day training seminar is an introduction to the methods used to predict substance using problem. Many estimation techniques will be mentioned in the seminar (e.g. multiplier methods, capture-recapture methods, discrete Poisson method). During the seminar, participants will be provided with information via computer-based exercises and discussion sessions. The seminar will not focus directly on the presentation of statistical methods on the contrary, will provide participants with an opportunity to discuss the fundamental aspects of the methods and the assumptions underlying the methods. The seminar will be given by well-known and long-standing experts on PDU estimation techniques. Seminar, was organized in cooperation with Ege University Substance Addiction, Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Sciences (BATI) Institute, Gazi University Faculty of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and the European Union Twinning Project under the number TR07IBJH02.