Once considered an """"""""American Disease,"""""""" drug abuse is now recognized as a global phenomenon. In recent years, vast potential new markets have opened up and combined with more vigorous drug production and trafficking networks, this presents a serious public health threat. having recognized the public health urgency of these issues, NIDA is encouraging international research on the epidemiology of drug abuse. Currently, information pertaining to international drug abuse patterns and consequences, public health resources, laws, and policies is difficult to access. A consolidated, computerized international drug abuse epidemiology data bank is needed which can be readily accessed by the broadest possible audience including drug abuse researchers, public health professionals, policy makers, and the general public. To meet this need, a prototype data bank system will be developed for 3 countries in this project. The goals are to; 1.) propose a strategy for obtaining relevant international information and data to be included in the consolidated data bank and implement the strategy; this strategy should incorporate appropriate linkages with existing computerized databases; 2.) develop a prototype computerized consolidated data bank including data from the U.Ss, Mexico, and one country in Asia, which provides access to: a. epidemiologic data on the nature and extent of drug abuse and associated consequences, morbidity, and mortality, b. information on public health resources such as treatment and prevention programs, c. pertinent laws and policies, such as laws and penalties for illicit drug possession and trafficking, policies regarding use of drugs in the workplace, and policies regarding availability of syringes and the therapeutic use of methadone, and d. a documentation center including unpublished reports and a bibliographic file of published literature on topics covered in the data bank; 3.) demonstrate feasibility of making the database available to the widest possible audience via internet.
