This article describes a model of epidemiological surveillance developed by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Community Epidemiology Work Group approach. It consists of researchers from different geographic locations collecting and analyzing comparable data on drug abuse from multiple sources on a regular basis. Data sources include medical examiners, hospital emergency rooms, addiction treatment centers, population surveys, and law enforcement. It thereby provides a mechanism for identifying and monitoring emerging drug abuse trends, new patterns of drug use, new drugs of abuse, and new populations at risk. These data can then be used to inform public health policy decisions. This community-based network model has been implemented at the city, state, national, regional, and international levels. Minnesota has convened a state epidemiology work group since 1988, now known as the Substance Abuse Research Forum convened by the Butler Center for Research at Hazelden. In the 1990's Minnesota also attempted to establish this model in various locations throughout the state.

See:
Kozel, N.J., Robertson, E.B., Falkowski, C.L., (2002) The community epidemiology work group approach, Substance Use and Misuse, Volume 37, Issue 5-7, pages 783 - 803.