NCJ Number
193689
Editor(s)
Charles F. Manski,
John V. Pepper,
Carol V. Petrie
Date Published
2001
Length
421 pages
Annotation
This final report presented findings and recommendations from the Committee on Data and Research for Policy on Illegal Drugs that assessed existing data sources and research studies supporting policy analysis, identified new data and research in the development of effective evaluative measures of alternative drug control policies, and explored the means to integrate theory and findings from various disciplines to increase the understanding of drug abuse and drug markets.
Abstract
In order to judge the effectiveness of the Nation’s efforts to cope with its illegal drug problem, adequate data and research are essential. It is also necessary to assess the data sources and research to determine how best to confront the problem and develop effective policy efforts where necessary. The National Research Council, under the U.S. Office of Drug Control Policy, established the Committee on Data and Research for Policy on Illegal Drugs to conduct this assessment, explore alternatives, and present recommendations. This final report is divided into three sections. The first section presents a general introduction and background into the scope and theme of the report and a general overview of the determinants and consequences of drug use. In the second section, the data collected by the Federal Government and other agencies to monitor the Nation’s drug problems are examined with consideration given to data enhancement. The third and final section examines the research now available to inform drug control policy, identified important gaps in knowledge, and made recommendations. Overall, the committee found that the existing drug use monitoring systems and programs of research were useful for some important purposes but inadequate to support the full range of policy decisions that needed to be made by the Nation. The main problem identified was the lack of investment in programs of data collection and empirical research that would allow for the evaluation of the Nation’s investment in drug law enforcement. The Nation’s ability to evaluate its enforcement activities is severely hampered by two major deficiencies: the absence of adequate data on drug consumption and reliable data on drug prices. Recommendations are presented in the areas of data and research enforcement, drug use monitoring, prevention of drug use, drug use treatment, and organizational improvements. Even though additional improvements are needed in these areas, the data and research capacity are in place. Data and research information supports strong drug policy analysis, describes the best methods to use, aids in avoiding misleading conclusions, and outlines strategies for increasing access to data. Appendices include characteristics of STRIDE cocaine data, data sources, Phase I Report Executive Summary, how do response problems affect survey measurement of trends in drug use, linking treatment to punishment: an evaluation of drug treatment in the criminal justice system, and biographical sketches.