Interpreting Official British Statistics on Addiction

Abstract

The statistical data issued by Britain's Home Office and Department of Health and Social Security are better and more detailed than comparable data issued by United States drug agencies. Since 1968, the main basis of these high-quality British statistics is that many, if not most, opiate addicts receive legal dosages at special treatment clinics. The well-trained, experienced staff of these clinics make knowledgeable decisions about a client's addiction, efficiently regulate dosage, and otherwise exert some degree of control over addicts (Judson, 1973). The cooperation of police and courts is also valuable in collecting data on drug convictions.

The data presented in these tables indicate that a rising problem of heroin addiction between 1962 and 1967 was arrested by the introduction of the treatment clinics in 1968. It also indicates that legally maintained heroin addiction has been reduced by almost one-third since 1968, although the individual's average heroin dose was not greatly reduced; also, most heroin addicts have been transferred to injectable methadone. However, recent consumption statistics from the DHSS indicate that London clinics are beginning to depend more heavily upon oral methadone for maintenance (Table 5). The decline in heroin prescribing and the relatively steady number of narcotics addicts has apparently occurred in the face of a continuing, and perhaps increasing, demand for heroin and other opiates.

With the exception of the discrepancy in the number of addicts during 1972 as reported by King (1973) and the Home Office (1973), analysis of various tables indicates that the official statistics are internally consistent. Minor differences between tables can be explained by the different geographic regions included or the different drugs referred to. There are apparently few “hidden” addicts, since few unknown addicts die of overdoses or are arrested by police (Lewis, 1973). In addition, many opiate users not officially reported are known by clinic doctors as friends of addicts receiving prescriptions (Judson, 1973). In brief, official British drug statistics are generally valid and demonstrate that heroin and perhaps methadone addiction has been well contained by the treatment clinics.