@article{ref1,
title="Estimating the size of crack cocaine users in france: methods for an elusive population with high heterogeneity",
journal="International journal on drug policy",
year="2020",
author="Janssen, Eric and Cadet-Taïrou, Agnes and Gérome, Clément and Vuolo, Michael",
volume="76",
number="",
pages="e102637-e102637",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Despite several sources corroborating an expanding market and increased visibility and greater diversity in users' profiles, very little is known about the number of crack cocaine users in France. <br><br>METHOD: The estimates rely on a single data source capture-recapture method. Annual data are extracted from treatment centres nationwide. To account for heterogeneity, we use an innovative zero-truncated geometric, regression-based estimator controlling for individual and centre characteristics. We use the well-known Zelterman estimator as a benchmark. <br><br>RESULTS: The number of crack cocaine users received in treatment centres increased dramatically, from 3388 in 2010 to 5143 in 2017 (+52%). The estimated number of crack cocaine users is believed to have tripled over the course of the same period (from 9775, 95% CI [8288-11530] to 28983 [24876-33766], respectively), with prevalences below 1‰, similar to other European countries. The coverage rate (observed number/estimated number of users) decreased in a similar fashion, indicating lower utilization. In particular, females and younger users are underestimated by data from treatment centres. <br><br>CONCLUSION: The prevalence of crack cocaine use is fairly low but steadily increasing. The diversity in users' profiles is a challenge to prevention and public health policies that should expand their scope to a more inclusive perspective of what defines crack cocaine users. Our method overcomes several methodological issues (data sources, data linkage, heterogeneity) and can be easily applied to a wide range of settings.<br><br>Copyright © 2019. Published by Elsevier B.V.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0955-3959",
doi="10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.102637",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.102637"
}