Appendix A: Description of the Sources

Ethnographic Sources

Twelve ethnographers, epidemiologists, and other ethnographic sources from urban areas were interviewed for this issue of Pulse Check. Ethnography is a qualitative research technique which has been used for many years in drug research. Unlike highly structured observation methods, ethnography describes activity "on its own terms," that is, without predetermined ideas about the activity. It is important to understand that ethnography is not undercover work. The ethnographer, a social scientist fully revealed as someone doing research, enters the drug user's world, records and describes it. Because of relationships established with subjects and the confidentiality of all information given, the ethnographer is often privy to types of information not available to police or treatment providers.

The ethnographic sources contacted for Pulse Check include some of the best-known drug researchers in the country. In most cases, they are trained ethnographers; in other cases, they are epidemiologists with access to ethnographic information or are social researchers working in a field site collecting ethnographic data. Most work in large urban areas, though some work in more suburban settings.

Police Sources

Police sources are derived from the Abt staff's existing contacts within law enforcement and from contacts developed through the recommendations of law enforcement agencies. These sources are typically officers working on special squads, narcotics task forces, and DEA agents. Over the last three years, police contacts in some cities have changed as officers take on new duties in other areas. Replacements are most often made on the recommendation of the officer who had served as Pulse Check reporter. This round of calls reached police sources in eight cities.

Treatment Providers

The sample of treatment providers is derived from the files of the National Drug Abuse Treatment Unit Survey (NDATUS) maintained by the National Institute on Drug Abuse. We divide NDATUS programs into four geographic regions. The states comprising each region are listed on the Treatment Provider Summary Tables for each drug (Tables 3, 6, and 9). Each region has approximately the same number of treatment programs, and the four regions are treated equally for sampling. Twenty programs are identified from each region. We attempt to contact 10-15, and the remainder serve as replacements. Samples are stratified in the attempt to include equal numbers of small (under 100 clients) and large programs. Programs which deal exclusively or even predominantly with alcohol abusers only are excluded. This quarter 52 treatment providers were interviewed.