What is sentinel surveillance?
Sentinel surveillance describes the methodology whereby participants are deliberately recruited for a study. In the IDRS and EDRS, this means participants are targeted according to their drug use history because they represent people who are most regularly involved in the illicit drug market. Advantages of consistently sampling in this way: • Data can be compared over time and place; • Emerging trends can be identified, and; • Because of their engagement with the market, participants can also provide timely information on new drugs, drug types and any associated issues. Limitations of this approach: • It is not representative of all illicit drug users- it’s not designed to be- but care needs to be taken when reporting and reading our findings; • It is not necessarily an indication of trends in the general population, and; • It cannot report on changes in the size of a drug market. For example; the number of users.
