The Narcotics Register Project: Early Development

Abstract

There is little dispute as to the seriousness of the narcotic abuse problem in New York City in terms of both numbers of addicts (with estimates ranging from 20,000 to lO0,OOO) and cost in stolen merchandise, disrupted family life, and individual deterioration. Hepatitis, tetanus, bacterial endocarditis, septic abscesses and inadvertent overdosage of drugs are frequent sequelae of the addiction process. In addition to these concurrent morbid conditions, there were over 350 deaths in New York City in 1966 from the direct effects of addiction. Many types of addiction control programs are presently in operation providing such services as hospital detoxification, social and psychiatric service, job counseling, and preventive education. The State of New York, under the newly established Narcotics Control Commission, and the City of New York, under the Office of the Narcotics Coordinator, are presently developing broad-based programs involving widely varied treatment services and research approaches. In order to plan these programs and coordinate the activities of the many public and private agencies working in the field, certain minimum data requirements have emerged as essential. They include accurate incidence and prevalence information, and an accurate description of the demographic and social composition of the abuser population.