The Pompidou Group treatment demand protocol: the first pan-European standard in the field

There have been many efforts to collect drug treatment demand data in the last decades, but only few organisations worked on international comparable instruments. This paper describes such an attempt organised under the auspices of the Council of Europe in the late 80s, beginning of the 90s. Both the developed protocol as well as its implementation in various European cities are presented. Between 1993 and 1999, a comparative research project to annually compile data and trends on European level was carried out. Data quality issues and methodological problems are highlighted. The paper notes the value and success of the treatment demand indicator, but claims for further improvements and a combined use with other indicators and qualitative information. Some spin-off and follow-up projects are summarised.