The prevalence of heavy narcotics abuse in Sweden in 1992

A case‐finding study was carried out in 1992 to determine the prevalence of drug abuse in Sweden. Several authorities in 100 local communities and 59 police districts were selected to participate in the case‐finding research. The number of heavy drug abusers was estimated to be 17,000. Heavy drug use is defined as “any intravenous use of drugs, regardless of substance, or any daily or near‐daily use of drugs, regardless of the method of administration”. The study was designed to make the results comparable to a similar study in 1979 in which the number found was 12,000. According to the studies, the number of heavy drug abusers increased by 5000 between 1979 and 1992. The age distribution shows that the recruitment of abusers has declined, especially among young people.