Addictions to, dependence on, and abuse of alcohol and drugs—from marijuana and methamphetamine to cocaine and heroin—place emotional and economic burdens on individuals, families, and communities. RAND research provides a firm, empirical foundation for policymakers and helps community leaders and public officials worldwide to deal effectively with substance use disorders and associated issues.
Research Brief
Reversing the rising tide of obesity and further reducing rates of tobacco use could produce substantial long-term dividends in terms of lives saved and disabling illnesses prevented. Communities, employers, and parents all have important roles.
Content
In its second term, the Obama Administration can restrain further health care spending growth—without compromising quality—by employing four broad strategies: fostering efficient and accountable providers, engaging and empowering consumers, promoting population health, and facilitating high-value innovation.
Content
The 24/7 Sobriety Project requires those arrested for or convicted of alcohol-related offenses to take twice-a-day breathalyzer tests or wear a continuous alcohol monitoring bracelet. Those who fail or skip their tests are immediately subject to swift, certain but modest sanctions—typically a day or two in jail.
Journal Article
Understanding factors associated with heavy drinking among homeless youth is important for prevention efforts.
Journal Article
The purpose of the PbR Pilots is to develop and test out new approaches to the commissioning and delivery of drugs and alcohol recovery systems that reward achievement of this outcome.
News Release
The nature of the American drug problem has changed substantially over the last 20 years. It is now less of a crime problem illustrated by drug market violence and more of a health problem with higher rates of morbidity and mortality, and a criminal justice problem of burdensome incarceration rates.
Report
The nature of the American drug problem has changed substantially over the last 20 years. It is now less of a crime problem illustrated by drug market violence and more of a health problem with higher rates of morbidity and mortality, and a criminal justice problem of burdensome incarceration rates.
Report
The Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act funds programs that curb crime among juvenile probationers and young at-risk offenders. This report summarizes, for fiscal year 2010-2011, state- and county-determined outcome measures from each program.
Commentary
It is time we treated food with the same respect we hold for the power of alcohol. It's time to develop and implement regulations that will help us moderate our diets and stem the obesity epidemic, write Deborah Cohen and Lila Rabinovich.
Commentary
This November, Washington state, Oregon, and Colorado voters will consider ballot measures to legalize the production, distribution, and possession of marijuana for nonmedical purposes. Even if voters pass these measures at the state level, marijuana will still be prohibited by the federal government, writes Beau Kilmer.
Journal Article
There is a strong association between adolescents' beginning to work and their beginning to smoke. Thus the workplace may be an appropriate venue for antismoking interventions targeting youth.
Journal Article
Familism and parental respect are culturally derived constructs rooted in Hispanic and Asian cultures, respectively.
Journal Article
The overall aim of the work presented in this report was to use novel approaches to measure alcohol advertisement exposure among young people in Europe through audiovisual and online media.
Commentary
Workplaces across the world that rely on a teenage workforce, like supermarkets and fast food restaurants, need to do a better job protecting young people from starting to smoke, writes Rajeev Ramchand.
News Release
A decade of unprecedented efforts in Arkansas has cut cigarette use by nearly one-third and reduced incidence of tobacco-related illnesses such as heart attacks and stroke. To maintain the gains it has made, Arkansas should continue its financial commitment of devoting the tobacco settlement funds to public health programs.
Report
A decade of unprecedented efforts in Arkansas has cut cigarette use by nearly one-third and reduced incidence of tobacco-related illnesses such as heart attacks and stroke. To maintain the gains it has made, Arkansas should continue its financial commitment of devoting the tobacco settlement funds to public health programs.
Report
This summary of the external evaluation of Arkansas Tobacco Settlement Commission activities looks at program implementation and changes in health outcomes associated with seven health-related programs funded by the Master Settlement Agreement over the past decade.
Report
This DVD set presents demonstrations of techniques, strategies, and exercises used in the BRIGHT (Building Recovery by Improving Goals, Habits, and Thoughts) group therapy for individuals with co-occurring alcohol and drug use problems.
Journal Article
Cultural values affect the likelihood that adolescents will begin to use alcohol.
Journal Article
A voluntary after-school program focused specifically on alcohol and drug use may be effective in deterring alcohol use among early adolescents.
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