EVALUATION OF MEASURES TO DEAL WITH DRUG DEPENDENCE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

• NCJ Number: 26205
• Author(s): J C KRAMER; R H MILKMAN
• Date Published: 1973
• Length: 11 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Best Practice/State-of-the-Art Review
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: PAPER DELIVERED TO THE ANGLO-AMERICAN CONFERENCE ON DRUG ABUSE OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF MEDICINE - LONDON, APRIL 18, 1973.

Annotation

A DISCUSSION OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR EVALUATIONS OF DRUG ABUSE PROGRAMS, SOME OF THE PITFALLS INHERENT IN THESE EVALUATION AND THE CURRENT MAJOR EFFORT IN THE UNITED STATES TO PROVIDE SUCH EVALUATION.

Abstract

EVALUATING PROGRAMS WHOSE GOAL IS THE ALTERATION OF HUMAN BEHAVIOR IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE THE OBJECTIVES OF DIFFERENT MODALITIES MAY BE DIFFERENT AND BECAUSE HUMAN BEHAVIOR IS SO PROFOUNDLY AFFECTED BY UNDEFINABLE INFLUENCES. EVALUATION AS IT IS HERE CONCEIVED IS NOT A SIMPLE MATHEMATICAL SUMMATION BUT IS RATHER AN IMPRESSIONISTIC SUMMATION OF A LARGE QUANTITY OF RELEVANT DATA. PROGRAM AUTHORITIES ARE FEARFUL OF EVALUATION; IN GENERAL THEY CANNOT BE TRUSTED TO EVALUATE THEMSELVES AND CAN BE EXPECTED TO RESIST EVALUATION FROM THE OUTSIDE. ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SOME NOTABLE EXCEPTIONS, PROGRAM ADMINISTRATORS AND DIRECTORS ARE A BIASED LOT WITH A CONSIDERABLE STAKE, IDEOLOGICAL AS WELL AS FISCAL, IN THE CONTINUANCE OF THEIR PROGRAMS. EVALUATION PERFORMED BY EMPLOYEES OF THE ORGANIZATION IS OFTEN BIASED WHILE EVALUATION DONE BY OUTSIDE CONTRACTORS HAS TOO OFTEN BEEN SUPPRESSED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)