 |
 |
|
 |
||
JUNE 2009 HOT TOPICSRAND's Drug Policy Research Center: A Continuing Policy Resource
Founded at the RAND Corporation 20 years ago, the Drug Policy Research Center (DPRC) helps policymakers explore more effective ways of dealing with drug problems by building a firm foundation on which sound policies can be developed. Relying on a multidisciplinary approach, DPRC researchers work across the gamut of relevant areas, including prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and enforcement at the local, national, and international levels. Visit DPRC to learn more about it or sign up to receive DPRC Insight, a regularly published electronic newsletter that focuses on major drug policy issues. Two recent studies highlight the range of DPRC research. Although national household surveys and school-based studies suggest that methamphetamine (meth) use is a relatively minor concern, many law-enforcement agencies and county hospitals indicate that it is the most significant problem facing the populations they serve. RAND researchers conducted the first comprehensive national assessment of the estimated cost of meth use to better understand these conflicting data. The study found that the estimated economic burden of meth use amounted to $23.4 billion in 2005, the most recent year for which the data were available. There is considerable uncertainty in this estimate, however, with amounts ranging from as low as $16.2 billion to as high as $48.3 billion. Around 70 percent of the estimated costs come from the intangible burden that addiction places on dependent users and from their premature mortality. There is a need for caution in interpreting evidence from national household surveys and school-based studies. Those who impose the greatest cost on society are those who become addicted, engage in crime, need treatment or emergency assistance, do not show up for work, lose their jobs, or die prematurely–populations not adequately represented in household- or school-based surveys. Another study–conducted jointly by the DPRC, RAND Europe, and the Trimbos Institute–assessed the development of the global market for illicit drugs from 1998 to 2007 and policies intended to address problems related to drug use. The evidence suggests that illicit drugs presented as much of a problem in 2007 as they did in 1998. Broadly speaking, the global drug problem generally waned in richer countries but worsened in a few large developing or transitional countries. There was also evidence of a convergence of national drug policies, with demand reduction being increasingly emphasized and harm reduction (such as providing clean needles) finding wider acceptance, though such measures remain controversial in certain countries. Some countries in which tough enforcement had been absolutely central now employ such measures as substitution treatment as important ways to reduce heroin-related problems. Policies toward sellers and traffickers have toughened. On balance, national policies had both positive and negative consequences. The challenge ahead will be to constructively build on the lessons of such policies so that policymakers can increase the positive benefits of policy interventions and avert the negative ones. READ THE RESEARCH BRIEF: The Costs of Methamphetamine Use: A National Estimate The Challenge of Meeting Parolee Health Care Needs in California Communities
As California continues to release more prisoners, most will return to California communities, bringing with them a host of health and social needs. This raises key public health challenges, especially because ex-prisoners are returning to communities whose safety nets are already severely strained. To help policymakers address these challenges, a RAND Corporation study examined the health care needs of those returning from prison to communities and the ability of the health care safety net in those communities to handle them. The study found that California inmates' health care needs are high and that their mental health and drug treatment needs are even higher. Using geocoded corrections data for parolees released from California state prisons in 2005–2006, the study mapped where parolees go and found that certain California counties and communities are disproportionately affected by reentry. Most parolees return to disadvantaged communities, where their needs for health care, housing, and employment are harder to meet. Using an accessibility measure developed for the study and focusing on Alameda, Kern, Los Angeles, and San Diego counties, the researchers found that access to health care, mental health, and substance abuse treatment safety nets varies within counties and by race/ethnicity. The study's mapping and accessibility measure approach can help policymakers and practitioners understand the public health implications of reentry and best allocate resources and funding for this population. READ THE RESEARCH BRIEF: Assessing Parolees' Health Care Needs and Potential Access to Health Care Services in California |
|
||||
|
The RAND Safety and Justice Program conducts research, analysis, and demonstrations that help policymakers, government agencies, and communities improve public safety. To access our research, please visit our website at www.rand.org/ise/safety/. The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit research organization providing objective analysis and effective solutions that address the challenges facing the public and private sectors around the world. Learn More »Copyright © 2009 RAND Corporation. 1776 Main Street, Santa Monica, CA 90401-3208. RAND® is a registered trademark. We respect your privacy. If you do not wish to receive this periodic newsletter, please email ocr@rand.org or call (703) 413-1100 x5395. This newsletter is also available on the RAND Congressional web site at http://www.rand.org/congress/newsletters/safety_justice/2009/06/. |
|||||
