Drug Abuse Warning Network: Developement of a New Design, Methodology Report

• NCJ Number: 198042
• Author(s): Lori Ducharme; Caroline McLeod; Jim Green; Al Woodward
• Date Published: August 2002
• Length: 126 pages
• Contract Number(s): 282-98-0015; 282-98-0003
• Sponsoring Agency: SAMHSA Ctr for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality
• Corporate Author: Westat
• Sale Source: SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Legislative Hearing/Committee Report
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: SAMHSA Methodology Series: M-4

Annotation

This report describes the redesign of the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) that was accomplished in 2002.

Abstract

DAWN is described as an ongoing, national data system that collects and reports information on adverse health consequences associated with drug abuse, gathering data on drug abuse-related Emergency Department (ED) visits from a representative sample of hospitals in the United States, and also data on drug abuse-related deaths reviewed by participating medical examiners and coroners. The structure, content, and operation of each component of this program are reviewed. The scope of this program redesign by SAMHSA was two-fold, covering how DAWN could be made more useful in terms of predicting the patterns, trends, and consequences of substance abuse; and how the quality and timeliness of DAWN data collection and reporting could be improved. This report describes the process of how this redesign was accomplished. Some of the numerous tables that are included are: metropolitan areas in proposed sample redesign; recommended data elements for DAWN; trends in ED utilization 1993-1997; ED cases with patient as expected source of payment 1993-1997; use of ambulatory care by insurance status 1996; urgent/emergent ED visits by type of insurance; ED utilization by HMO status for insured persons 1987 and 1996; direct reimbursement model coefficients by facility location, disposition of cases, and precision requirements for original sample design; and sensitivity and specificity of Log Screen used in field test.