The National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS) is the official method for measuring the number of people in contact with structured drug treatment services (Tier 3 and 4 services - high threshold). Numbers of people in contact with services such as those providing information and advice, and syringe exchange (defined as low threshold) are therefore not collated in the NDTMS. Data on both those drug misusers presenting for treatment and those actually in treatment are collated in the system. (i.e. an individual may present to an agency for structured drug treatment but not subsequently start treatment). Reporting to the NDTMS is voluntary and as a result trends can be affected by reporting practices. However, the requirement to report to the NDTMS should be contained within service level agreements between Drug Action Teams and their agencies and so reporting practices should improve.

The NDTMS was established in April 2001 prior to which data on the numbers of people presenting to services were collected by the Regional Drug Misuse Databases (RDMDs).

Data from the NDTMS are used to monitor the national target for drug treatment which is "to increase the participation of problem drug users in drug treatment programmes by 55% by 2004, and by 100% by 2008, and increase year on year the proportion of users successfully sustaining or completing treatment programmes".

Back to top ^^

Time series data for the NDTMS are provided for 2001/02 , 2003/04 and 2004/05. Data were not released from the NTA for 2002/03.

The NTA and the National Drug Evidence Centre (NDEC) have developed a website tool for generating national statistics reports based on Local Delivery Plan (LDP) performance data. A link can be found in the table below.

Date	Title	Format	View
19 Dec 2006	Women drug users in London: an investigation into prevalence, drug using patterns and treatment issues.
10 Mar 2006	National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS), Statistics for 2005/06

Back to top ^^

The table below contains a report on drug treatment in London based on the 2004/05 data, the main findings of which are summarized in the key pojnts section . Figures on numbers in treatment in 2004/05, rates per 100,000 resident population aged 15-44 and percentage change between 03/04 and 04/05 can also be found in the following table .

Date	Title	Format	View
19 May 2006	Drug Treatment in London, 2004/05: Analyses of the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS)
10 Mar 2006	Numbers in Treatment, Rates per 100,000 Resident Population Aged 15-44 and Percentage Change Between 2003/04 and 2004/05, DAT Level
9 Mar 2006	12 Week Retention at Point of Discharge for Mental Health Trusts, Provisional 2004/05 Figures

Back to top ^^

The LHO produced detailed tables summarising demographic and drug use information from the 03/04 dataset which were emailed directly to DAT coordinators and Joint Commissioning Managers. However, this data release was superseded by published figures from the NTA.

Date	Title	Format	View
30 Sep 2005	Drug treatment in London: 2003/04 data. Analyses of the National Drug Treatment Monitoring System (NDTMS)
30 Sep 2005	Numbers in treatment in 2003/04 and rates per 100,000 population aged 15-44, DAT level
1 Jul 2005	National Bulletin: statistics from the national drug treatment monitoring system (NDTMS) 2003/04
1 Jul 2005	Numbers in drug treatment by age, drug action team level, 2003/04
1 Jul 2005	Numbers in drug treatment by ethnic group, drug action team level, 2003/04
1 Jul 2005	Numbers in Drug Treatment by Injecting Behaviour, Drug Action Team Level, 2003/04
1 Jul 2005	Numbers in Drug Treatment by Modality (or type) of Treatment, Drug Action Team Level, 2003/04
1 Jul 2005	Numbers in Drug Treatment by Referral Source, Drug Action Team Level, 2003/04
1 Jul 2005	Numbers in Treatment by Main Drug of Misuse, Drug Action Team Level, 2003/04
1 Jul 2005	Statistical Release on Analysis of Clients in Treatment in England, 2003/04 (NTA)

Back to top ^^

Date	Title	Format	View
1 Jan 2003	Numbers in Drug Treatment, Drug Action Team Level, 2001/02 including borough level demographics

Back to top ^^

The key points on drug treatment below are based on the 2004/05 NDTMS data. Further information can be found in the LHO Drug treatment in London, 2004/05 data report, which can be downloaded from the 2004/05 resources above:

• 27,692 London residents were in contact with structured drug treatment services in 2004/05.
• There was an increase of 25% in the number of individuals in contact with drug treatment services between 03/04 and 04/05.
• Inner London residents were more likely to access treatment services than outer London residents and there was variation in the numbers accessing services between DAT areas. The treatment rate (number of people in contact with drug treatment services per 100,000 of the population aged 15-44) in inner London was 997.9 and in outer London was 616.3.
• Treatment rates tended to be higher in DAT areas which were more deprived.
• The majority of those in contact with treatment services were male (71%).
• Seventy-one percent of those in contact with treatment services were from the White ethnic group, 11% from the Black ethnic group, 7% from the Asian ethnic group, 5% from the Mixed ethnic group, and 4% from the Other ethnic groups.
• The ethnic breakdown varied amongst DAT areas. For example, Ealing and Haringey had the lowest proportions from the White ethnic group (48% and 49% respectively), and Havering, Richmond and Sutton the highest (96%, 94% and 93% respectively).
• The Mixed ethnic group was more likely to access treatment services than any other ethnic group. The ethnic specific treatment rate (number in treatment per 100,000 population aged 15-44 in that particular ethnic group) was 1302.7 in the Mixed ethnic group and lowest in the Asian ethnic group (469.0).
• The average age of individuals in treatment was 33.8 years. Asians in treatment were significantly younger than other ethnic groups.
• Males in the 30-34 age category comprise the largest group in treatment. Females were slightly younger than males overall.
• The majority of individuals (60%) cited opiates as their main problem drug with heroin being the most commonly recorded (46%). Crack was the second most commonly reported main drug (15%) followed by cannabis (11%).
• More males than females reported heroin use (48% versus 42%), and more females than males reported use of Benzodiazepines (4% versus 1%).
• The Black and Mixed ethnic groups were more likely to report crack use than other ethnic groups.
• The majority (42.8%) of individuals were self-referrals. Approximately 12% were referred from each of: treatment services, criminal justice services and primary care.
• Males were more likely to be referred through the criminal justice system than females. 14% of males were referred through criminal justice compared to 8% of females. Similarly, the Black and Mixed ethnic groups were more likely to be referred through criminal justice than the White, Asian and other groups.
• Where information on the type of treatment (modality) received was available, the majority (35.5%) of individuals were in specialist prescribing with 20% and 15.9% in structured counselling and other structured interventions respectively.
• There was a slightly higher proportion of males than females in structured counselling (24% versus 18%). Otherwise, the proportions of males and females in each modality were similar. There was a higher proportion of the Asian, White and ‘Other’ ethnic groups in specialist prescribing (35%, 38% and 43% respectively) and GP prescribing (17%, 12% and 15% respectively) than the Black and Mixed ethnic groups. However, differences in modality may reflect differences in drug use.
• There was a higher rate of successful discharges in women and in the White, Black, and other ethnic groups. Successful discharges were highest in the youngest and oldest age groups.

Back to top ^^