STAGE 1. Assessing needs
What steps should be completed?
Step 1: Explore the magnitude, characteristics and consequences of drug use
Analysing data on the supply of drugs and its evolution is of the utmost importance, but it is not always possible. In the case of alcoholic beverages and tobacco, many of these data are disseminated by the industry itself or by the public bodies that impose special taxes on the economic activities generated by these products.
Of course, the fact that illegal drugs are produced and traded clandestinely means that it is difficult to obtain data on the market for this type of substance, so data on the quantities of drugs seized by the security forces tend to be used as an indicator of the supply of these substances.
Similarly, perception of drugs accessibility (which some surveys tend to investigate by asking questions such as, "how easy would it be to get...?") is also an indirect drug supply indicator, despite being based on subjective opinions.
It may be useful to take into account the following guidelines when collecting information on the supply of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs (price, availability, advertising, etc.):
© COPOLAD. Cooperation Programme between Latin America, the Caribbean and the European Union on Drugs Policies.
