Estimating the extent of the heroin problem in Slovenia: application of the key informant approach and the nomination technique where there are no other reliable sources of information.

Abstract

Current evidence reveals a continuing upward trend in the misuse of illicit drugs in Slovenia. However, the science of estimating the prevalence of drug abuse and related problems is still undeveloped. Because of current data gathering practices, the data that are available are often of poor quality. In this paper the author describes two methods for estimating the prevalence of heroin abuse, the key informant approach and the nomination technique, which were used because there were no other reliable sources of information. These methods produced estimates and brought to light a number of problems that researchers would have to solve in their pursuit of more reliable, relevant and useful data. However, speculating about the extent of illicit drug use in the country is still problematic. Basic data collection and analyses at the national level must be improved. It is of vital importance to develop strategies and methods for obtaining estimates and thus more adequate information on which to base demand reduction strategies, to increase the number of epidemiologists and to establish a central information unit in the country.