Assessment of Methods Used by State and Local Governments to Estimate Drug Abuse Levels

• NCJ Number: 141182
• Author(s): R H Milkman; E McDevitt; R Feldeman; N Landson
• Date Published: 1991
• Length: 34 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; Lazar Institute; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Type: Issue Overview
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Lazar Monograph No. 881

Annotation

A survey of over 200 locales and case studies of 12 States were conducted to add to the state of knowledge about how State and local governments assess the extent of their drug abuse problem.

Abstract

Most locales collect a wide range of data on drug use but do not devote substantial resources to drug use assessment activities. The development of informal estimates such as "trend lines" was the most likely approach to analyzing the data collected. A small number of jurisdictions use relatively sophisticated methodologies to assess the extent of their drug problem. In general, jurisdictions have little confidence in their assessments which are not key contributors to drug program policy. States, cities, and counties all indicate that a manual in addition to a training course provide the most potential for improving drug use assessments. 14 figures