Estimating the use of illegal drugs among homeless people using shelters in Denmark

Based on a longitudinal study of approximately 1000 homeless people who used shelters or similar institutions in 1988-89, an estimate was made of the rate of people using illegal drugs in that population. This estimation was made possible by combining information from different registers-criminal records, enrollments at drug user treatment centers, and registers indicating cause of death. The samples use of drugs is also noted. The implications of these findings are discussed in the light of Denmark's current policy towards people using illegal drugs and using shelters.