New data on drug abuse available
For the first time in over a decade, public-use data files available are available for the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN). The DAWN is a nationally representative public health surveillance system that continuously monitors hospital drug-related emergency department (ED) visits and drug-related deaths reported by select coroner and medical examiner offices across the country.
The 2008 DAWN ED public-use data and documentation files are available for download through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Data Archive Web site. Variables in DAWN provide details on the ED visit, including type of case, case disposition, drug involvement in the ED visit, route of administration, and the number of unique drugs reported. A metropolitan area indicator is included for the metropolitan areas that DAWN oversamples. Through SAMHDA, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is planning to also release DAWN data starting from 2004 to 2007 and 2009 onwards in the upcoming year.
Jul 15, 2011