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.
Journal Article
Training addiction counselors to deliver group therapy can bring effective mental treatment to depressed individuals who are also substance abusers.
Journal Article
Analysis of Oregon's state parity law suggests that behavioral health insurance parity rules restricting how plans manage mental health and substance abuse services can improve insurance protections without substantial increases in total costs.
Journal Article
Portal survey methods can be used to anonymously survey gay and bisexual men about HIV-risk behaviors before and after a weekend party–oriented vacation.
Journal Article
The 15 % of veterans with mental health illness accounted for about one-third of total VA costs, mostly for non-mental health conditions. VA quality of care was generally better than care in private plans, but quality varied across VA regions.
Journal Article
How legalizing marijuana would affect consumption and tax revenues will depend on many design choices including tax level, incentives for a continued black market, whether advertising is restricted, and how the regulatory system is designed and adjusted.
Journal Article
College students were exposed to protobacco marketing through multiple channels in a relatively short period: Exposures occurred primarily in the afternoon (42%), on weekends (35%), and at point-of-purchase locations (68%) or in movies/TV (20%), and exposures to Marlboro, Newport, and Camel represented 56% of all exposures combined and 70% of branded exposure.
Journal Article
Mexican American injection drug users reported fewer sex-related risks than Whites and African Americans. Mexican Americans were more likely to participate in drug treatment during a 6 month period, but less likely to receive any health care.
Journal Article
This study provides descriptive information about 1,655 applicants in California who sought a physician's recommendation for medical marijuana, the conditions for which they sought treatment, and the diagnoses made by the physicians.
Journal Article
Group treatment for teen alcohol and drug disorders can be enhanced by motivational interviewing, a technique that may be ideally suited to addressing barriers to treating teens in groups because it is inherently collaborative, focusing on achievable approaches for change.
Journal Article
Clinicians are more likely to treat symptoms of nicotine withdrawal when smoking is restricted. Hospitals should monitor prescriptions for nicotine replacement therapies to ensure high quality patient care.
Journal Article
Youth with marijuana problems who received a research-based treatment (motivational enhancement therapy plus cognitive behavioral therapy [MET/CBT5]) had better outcomes than similar youth treated in community-based programs.
Research Brief
This study of middle school students in Southern California found that racial and ethnic variations in substance use among young adolescents are influenced by individual, family and school factors.
News Release
Legalizing marijuana in California will not dramatically reduce the drug revenues collected by Mexican drug trafficking organizations from sales to the United States.
Report
The only scenario where marijuana legalization in California could substantially reduce the revenue of the drug trafficking organizations is if high-potency, California-produced marijuana is smuggled to other U.S. states at prices that are lower than those of current Mexican supplies.
Research Brief
Discusses whether legalizing marijuana in California would reduce the revenues of Mexican drug trafficking organizations and related violence.
Report
Testimony presented by Beau Kilmer before the California State Assembly Public Safety Committee and California State Senate Public Safety Committee on September 21, 2010.
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 2008-2009, state- and county-determined outcome measures from each program.
Journal Article
A survey of students conducted by RAND Health researchers at 16 California middle schools shows Hispanic kids are more likely to smoke, drink, or use marijuana than their peers in other ethnic or racial groups.
Past Event
Beau Kilmer, codirector of the RAND Drug Policy Research Center, will discuss the projected revenues, costs, and effects on price and use that may come from legalizing, regulating, and taxing marijuana in California.
Multimedia
A voter initiative to legalize marijuana has qualified for the November 2010 ballot in California. In this July 12, 2010, Congressional Briefing, the codirector of the RAND Drug Policy Research Center discusses the projected revenues, costs, and effects on price and use that may come from legalizing, regulating, and taxing marijuana in California.
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