NCJ Number
117957
Date Published
1989
Length
18 pages
Annotation
This study examines the degree to which the Washington metropolitan area is served by the available public-sector data systems concerning drug problems and programs.
Abstract
The report discusses information about drug use in the general population, drug use by juveniles, enforcement strategies, treatment needs, and prevention programs. The focus is on ways that agencies could expand information collection to reflect the state of the art, generally attained in at least one local jurisdiction. Proposals for a regional survey of drug use are discussed, and special studies of practices of intravenous drug users and drug use by pregnant women (two populations of great concern for public health planners) are also considered. The final section of the report sets priorities for policy-relevant data collection and analysis. The report concludes that for the purpose of designing "demand-reduction" programs, the greatest information needs are those that could be met by a user survey, coordinated school surveys, regular collection of data from treatment programs, a treatment census, and a regional prevention program clearinghouse. For law enforcement strategies, more data are needed in some jurisdictions on postarrest events to measure the degree to which arrest statistics measure real and sustained "crack downs." For evaluation of targeted prevention programs and the overall efforts, policymakers should consider repeating core questions on a household survey and a continuation of the DAWN (Drug Abuse Warning Network) reports. 12 footnotes.