NCJ Number
171275
Date Published
1996
Length
12 pages
Annotation
After an overview of drug trafficking and consumption in rural and urban areas of the United States, this paper recommends policies to address these issues.
Abstract
Although it has been relatively ignored in research and policy, the issue of illegal drugs in rural America is among the most pressing problems facing rural police. Illicit drug activities in rural areas include consumption, production, and trans-shipment. Overall, rural and urban youth are equally likely to be drug users, but cocaine and crack cocaine use is generally lower in rural areas; whereas, the use of inhalants and stimulants is higher in rural areas, and alcohol use is a much greater problem in rural areas, along with driving under the influence. Wide variations among rural communities in various parts of the Nation suggest that uniform national policies for application in all rural areas will not work. Although research has questioned the effectiveness of existing prevention programs, they should be continued in rural areas, at least in the short run. Policies that require direct Federal involvement in enforcement should be approached with caution. Short-term actions should include continued Federal support for rural task forces, which have proven valuable as a way to combine the expertise and knowledge of the local police with the technical skills and resources of other local police, State police, and Federal authorities. Resource sharing among police agencies in rural areas and between rural agencies and others at the State and Federal levels should be facilitated in the short term. Another issue that must be addressed is training for rural drug enforcement. The Federal Government could provide assistance in resolving the technical issues of training delivery. Policy recommendations for addressing drug problems in urban communities pertain to the economic and social context, community-based programs, mandatory treatment, treatment evaluation, media and school strategies, geographically focused enforcement, and a root-cause strategy.