Categorising, registering and monitoring client migration background in drug treatment demand and other registries: a European overview

Monitoring migration related proxies, indicators and variables among drug treatment clients is indispensable for understanding the needs of diverse migrant and ethnic minority populations in treatment. However, data collection in this domain is insufficiently standardized in European registries, disabling in-depth analysis and targeted intervention. In this presentation, we explore the rationale for categorisations in census and health data outside Europe. Second, we review migration related proxies and indicators in European treatment demand registration as well as database coupling methods. Third, we systematically look into the scientific quality of the latter as well as their compliance with vigilant privacy regulations (GDPR). We conclude with possibilities for future standardised scientifically sound client registration and database coupling in the European context.