Abstract: Objective To explore an appropriate mode for drug abuse monitoring in medical institutions in China, and to provide decision-making support for drug abuse monitoring. Methods A random sampling method was used to investigate current methods of drug abuse monitoring and the needs of and suggestions about the establishment of drug abuse monitoring systems in medical institutions. The staffers of drug abuse monitoring agencies and medical institutions in 12 provinces in China were enrolled in this survey. Results A total of 37 staffers from 36 monitoring agencies and 358 staffers from 61 medical institutions were investigated. Sixteen monitoring agencies in 8 sampled provinces (8/12) carried out drug abuse monitoring in medical institutions. More than 83.8% of the respondents believed that drug abuse monitoring should be carried out in general hospitals and psychiatric hospitals. Over 50.0% believed that the departments of psychiatry, pain, pharmacy, emergency and psychiatry should be the focus of monitoring. More than 60% expressed the view that sentinel surveillance should be combined with routine monitoring, with sentinel surveillance as primary and routine monitoring in medical institutions as secondary. More than 70% of the respondents replied that the corresponding management system, information technology, and technical training were critical to monitoring. Conclusion Drug abuse monitoring in medical institutions in China involves improving the management system and administrative push at the national level, and using information technology. It should be steadily promoted on the basis of relevant technical training, personnel allocation, financial support and establishment of mechanisms for supervision, assessment and information feedback.

Key words: medical institutions, drug abuse, monitoring, demand