Key indicators
The EMCDDA uses five key epidemiological indicators to achieve its goal of providing factual, objective, reliable and comparable information on drugs and drug addiction at European level. These indicators have been developed by the Centre in close collaboration with the Reitox network, experts across Europe and with other international organisations competent in the field of drugs and drug addiction.
The five key epidemiological indicators underpin the EMCDDA's reporting on trends and developments in the EU drug situation. They are also a necessary component of any analysis of the coverage of responses or the assessment of the impact of policies and actions.
In this section of the website, you can learn more about the key indicators, including an overview and access to a toolbox of supporting material on each indicator.
Select an indicator
General population surveys (GPS)
General population surveys are used to obtain information on drug use among the general population.
Problem drug use (PDU)
This key indicator collects data on the prevalence and incidence of problem drug use at national and local level.
Treatment demand indicator (TDI)
The treatment demand indicator is used to describe the population of problem drug users entering treatment.
Drug-related deaths and mortality (DRD)
The aim of this indicator is to obtain statistics on the number and characteristics of people who die as a consequence of drug use.
Drug-related infectious diseases (DRID)
This key indicator collects data on drug-related infectious diseases, particularly among injecting drug users.
