ARQ part II data management

Training pack 2: Monitoring

drug abuse for

policy and practice

Monitoring

• Monitoring is the systematic observation (surveillance) of defined aspects of reality for the purpose of:(in policy and practice) – Signalling changes that may call for

responses (interventions)– Evaluating the effects of responses (in research)– Explaining changes

Context

• Evidence-based policy and practice is growing in importance

• Monitoring is needed for evidence-based policy and practice:– To assess situations and developments– To define targets– To evaluate and adapt policies and interventions– To justify interventions and resource allocations

Objects of drug monitoring

For the ARQ, part II, the objects of drug monitoring are:

• The extent and patterns of drug abuse• The negative health consequences of drug

abuseOther objects of monitoring:• The extent and reach of interventions• The results of interventions• The social and economic costs of drug abuse

Responses to drug abuse

The main fields of intervention are:• Law enforcement• Prevention• Harm reduction• Treatment and rehabilitation

Conceptual framework

DRUG LAWENFORCEMENT

HARMREDUCTION

DRUGTREATMENT

POPULATION SURVEYS

SCHOOL SURVEYS

HEALTH AND SOCIALEFFECTS

HEALTH SURVEYSRISK GROUP SURVEYS

CASE FINDINGSTUDIES

KNOWNUSERS

TREATMENT DATAPOLICE DATA

CLIENT SURVEYS

MORTALITY DATAMORBIDITY DATASOCIAL SURVEYS

GENERALHEALTH ANDSOCIAL CARE

NON-USERS

EVER USERS

CURRENT USERS

DEPENDENTUSERS

PROBLEMUSERS

PRIMARYPREVENTION

Responses Drug use and problems Data sources

Drug monitoring system

Elements of a drug monitoring system:• Objectives• Indicators• Data collection• Analysis • Reporting• Interpretation

Objectives

• “Why?” precedes and defines “what?”, “when?” and “how?”

Examples:– Defining policy targets– Planning interventions– Allocating resources– Evaluating policy strategies– Evaluating the effects of interventions

Indicators

• Drug abuse and drug problems too complex• Indicators are selected and used as

descriptors of reality• Monitoring drug abuse and drug problems is

monitoring indicator data• Indicators must be:

– Valid– Considered appropriate by experts

Data collection

Relevant environment

Ÿ Population statistics

Ÿ Socio-economic statisticsŸ Studies on attitudes, etc.

Drug use/interventions

ŸExisting quantitative dataŸInformed expert opinionsŸPurposive estimatesŸQualitative studies

Indicator data

ŸPatterns of drug useŸDrug-related problemsŸExtent of interventions

Context information

SelectionRetrieval

Analysis

Different types of analysis:• Trends and differences (statistical analysis)• Influence of environment (explanation)• Effects of interventions (evaluation)• Construction of additional indicators

– Continuation of drug abuse– Incidence of (problem) drug use

Reporting

Requirements for reporting the results of monitoring:

• Data formats must be systematic and consistent

• The results of the analysis must be reported

• The objectives of the monitoring must be addressed

• The margins of error and possible bias must be stated

Interpretation

• What do the observed changes and developments mean for policy and practice?

• Recommendations on policies and intervention strategies

Network of monitors

Experts Stakeholders

Data

Conclusions

Discussion

Interpretation

Recommendations

Coordination

Governmentadministration

Researchers

Police

Treatment

Field workers

Health services

Data collectors

Setting up a monitoring system

• Assess capacities and resources (information, needs and resources analysis)

• Create a network of experts and stakeholders• Define your objectives• Assess the starting or baseline situation (rapid

situation assessment)• Select indicators (ARQ, IDIS)• Make a feasible implementation plan for data

collection, analysis, reporting and interpretation

IDIS, including INRA

www.unodc.org/pdf/gap_toolkit_module1.pdf

Integrated drug information system (IDIS), including information, needs and resources analysis (INRA)

Rapid situation assessments

ARQ Part II

www.unodc.org/pdf/cnd_quest/arq_part2_2002.doc