The first national survey on users of the harm reduction facilities (CAARUD) centres

This issue of Tendances presents the key results from the first national survey (known as ENa-CAARUD) carried out in late 2006 among users of the Reception and Harm Reduction Support Centres for drug users (CAARUD-Centres d'accueil et d'accompagnement à la reduction des risques pour usagers de drogues). 

At the request of the Ministry of Health, The ENa-CAARUD survey was carried out in the 114 centres officially recognised as CAARUDs in order to provide tracking indicators for the number and characteristics of drug users resorting to this scheme, thereby helping both professionals and the public authorities to adapt their responses to the needs and expectations of this vulnerable population group. 

Those users who visit these harm reduction centres are chiefly polydrug users in situations of social precariousness. 

Thanks to its exhaustive nature spanning the course of a week, this study is the first national survey to report back in a representative manner on the diversity and details of the drug consumption habits of a large group of current drug users. 

Eventually, the organisation of the survey at regular intervals should facilitate trend monitoring where drug use is concerned and make it possible to identify emerging phenomena.