Prevalence estimate of Drug Use in Wales 2010-21, Version 2
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Estimating the prevalence of problem and injecting drug use in Wales 2010-11 to 2020-21
IRAS ID
152442
Contact name
Josephine Smith
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Public Health Wales
Duration of Study in the UK
7 years, 1 months, 31 days
Research summary
The primary aim of the study is to provide robust annual prevalence estimates of problem drug use (PDU) and injecting drug use (IDU) across Wales for the ten year period 2010-11 to 2020-21. ‘Problem drug use’ is defined as “injecting drug use or long-duration/regular use of opioids, cocaine, amphetamines and/or amphetamine-type substances.” Injecting drug use is defined as injecting any drug not medically prescribed. This latter definition enables the inclusion of those who are injecting illicit drugs, new psychoactive substances and steroid and image enhancing drugs (SIEDs). Use of illicit drugs including heroin and cocaine, new psychoactive substances, also known as ‘legal highs’, and steroid and image enhancing drugs can have serious health and social consequences for the individual, their families and the communities in which they live. These estimates will support evidence based policy making and planning of specialist substance misuse and related health and social care services and will be provided at Police force and NHS Health Board level areas within Wales.
The methodology to be used within this study, the ‘capture-recapture’ technique, provides a robust indirect method of estimating the prevalence of problem and injecting drug use and allows for the estimation of the hidden population i.e. those not in contact with any substance misuse related organisations. This methodology has been used across the UK to estimate prevalence of PDU and IDU.
In addition to providing annual prevalence estimates, the study will also establish a de-identified master database to enable systematic exploration of longitudinal trends in substance misuse in Wales within specific subgroups to better understand trends and novel patterns of substance misuse that are currently being reported by frontline health, substance misuse and criminal justice services. This is an innovative approach that represents an opportunity to significantly develop the evidence base for substance misuse research, policy and practice in Wales, the UK and internationally.
REC name
Wales REC 3
REC reference
15/WA/0032
Date of REC Opinion
17 Feb 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion