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PREVALENCE ESTIMATION: POLICY NEEDS, CURRENT STATUS, AND FUTURE POTENTIAL

NCJ Number
142333
Journal
Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 23 Issue: 2 Dated: (Spring 1993) Pages: 345- 360
Author(s)
M D Anglin; J P Caulkins; Y Hser
Date Published
1993
Length
16 pages
Annotation
This article summarizes the policy needs for, the current status of, and recent developments in drug-use prevalence estimation; implications raised in previous articles in this collection are discussed, along with recommendations to improve prevalence estimation.
Abstract
Policy functions enhanced by prevalence estimates are the monitoring of drug use and early warnings for new consumption patterns, the identification of variations in consumption patterns, the performance of needs assessment and resource allocation, resource allocation across political units, resource allocation over the evolution of an epidemic, resource allocation across programs, resource allocation across specific populations, and the evaluation of intervention programs. This review of policy applications of prevalence estimates emphasizes the importance of considering the relevance of relative versus absolute estimates for various policy decisions. Other topics discussed are challenges in the obtaining of high-quality data and the evolution of estimation techniques and their applications. Recommendations for future directions pertain to the development of prevalence estimation according to policy needs, bridging of the gap between prevalence estimation research and policymaking, data improvement, sampling and adequate coverage, data quality, improved capacity for data integration, and coordination of data collection. Proposals also address methodological development and refinement (calibration, heterogeneity, and flexibility); the expansion of prevalence models; and ancillary efforts to improve prevalence estimation capacity (professional training and technical assistance, timeliness of data availability, data dissemination, confidentiality, and stabilized government support for research and development).