AGE SHIFT OF ONSET OF HEROIN USE - EPIDEMIOLOGIC-STUDY ON DRUG CONSUMPTION

The age at onset of illegal drug use is very important for the planning of prevention programs. National statistics published by police and heath agencies in Germany have lead to the opinion that the onset of drug use esp. of heroin has shifted to higher age groups. However, a statistical analysis of the registration process indicates that registration data are highly dependent not only on the age distribution at onset, but also on the total incidence of drug abuse, the maturing-out process, the latent period before registration, and on the general age development of the population. A computer simulation leads to the conclusion that a moderate shift to higher ages had occurred in the mid '80s. Recently there has been a shift back movement to an earlier onset. As always adolescents and young adults run the greatest risk.