Bryce Pardo

Associate Policy Researcher

Washington Office

Education

Ph.D., University of Maryland; M.A. in Latin American Studies, George Washington University; B.A. in political science, George Washington University

Media Resources

This researcher is available for interviews.

To arrange an interview, contact the RAND Office of Media Relations at (310) 451-6913, or email media@rand.org.

More Experts

Overview

Bryce Pardo is an associate policy researcher at the RAND Corporation. His work focuses on drug policy with a particular interest in the areas of cannabis regulation, opioid control, and new psychoactive substance markets. He has over ten years of experience working with national, state, and local governments in crime and drug policy. Prior to joining RAND, he served five years as a legislative and policy analyst at the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) within the Organization of American States (OAS) where he worked directly with policymakers and practitioners. He has independently consulted with multi-lateral institutions, including the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). Pardo also served as lead analyst with BOTEC Analysis Corporation to support the Government of Jamaica in drafting medical cannabis regulations. Pardo has years of experience in data science (programming in R and STATA), quantitative analysis, econometric modeling, writing descriptive analyses, and literature reviews. He has experience conducting qualitative research, including stakeholder interviews and survey design and analysis. His research and academic works have been published in the International Journal of Drug Policy, Addiction, Lancet Psychology, Criminology and Public Policy, and reports for the London School of Economics, UNODC, PAHO, and the National Academy of Sciences. Pardo holds a Ph.D. in public policy from the University of Maryland, College Park and an M.A. in Latin American studies and a B.A. in political science from the George Washington University.

Research Focus

Selected Publications

Bryce Pardo, Evolution of the U.S. Overdose Crisis: Understanding China's Role in the Production and Supply of Synthetic Opioids, RAND (CT-497), 2018

Bryce Pardo and Peter Reuter, "Narcotics and Drug Abuse: Foreshadowing of 50 Years of Change," Criminology and Public Policy, 17(2), 2018

Bryce Pardo and Peter Reuter, "Facing fentanyl: should the USA consider trialling prescription heroin?" Lancet Psychiatry, 2018

Bryce Pardo, "Do More Robust Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs Reduce Prescription Opioid Overdose?" Addiction, 2017

Steven Davenport and Bryce Pardo, "The Dangerous Drugs Act Amendment in Jamaica: Reviewing Goals, Implementation, and Challenges," International Journal of Drug Policy, 2016

Peter Reuter and Bryce Pardo, "New psychoactive substances: Are there any good options for regulating New Psychoactive Substances?" International Journal of Drug Policy, 2016

Peter Reuter and Bryce Pardo, "Can New Psychoactive Substances Be Regulated Effectively? An Assessment of the British Psychoactive Substances Bill.," Addiction, 2016

Bryce Pardo, "Cannabis Policy Reforms in the Americas: A Comparative Analysis of Colorado, Washington, and Uruguay.," International Journal of Drug Policy, 2014

Languages

Spanish; Portuguese

Commentary

Tackle Fentanyl like a Poisoning Outbreak, Not a Drug Epidemic
America's fentanyl problem is far deadlier than past crises with other illegal drugs. New ideas, be they public policies, technologies or law enforcement strategies, are desperately needed. Continuing to treat fentanyl just like previous drug epidemics will likely be insufficient and may condemn thousands more to early deaths.
Sep 3, 2019 Los Angeles Times
China's Ban on Fentanyl Drugs Won't Likely Stem America's Opioid Crisis
Given China's recent decision to ban the unauthorized manufacture of fentanyl, authorities there appear to recognize a growing problem. But China cannot solve the U.S. opioid problem. The United States could do more to reduce demand for opioids as well as drug users' exposure to these powerful drugs.
May 22, 2019 Los Angeles Times
Addressing Federal Conflicts Over Supervised Drug Consumption Sites
With drug overdose deaths mounting, some American cities are trying to create designated spaces where people who use heroin and other drugs can have their consumption supervised by medical professionals. The Department of Justice argues these sites would violate federal law, but federal decisionmakers have several options.
Mar 14, 2019 The Hill

Publications

Report
Characterization of the Synthetic Opioid Threat Profile to Inform Inspection and Detection Solutions
Researchers from the Homeland Security Operational Analysis Center evaluated publicly available data to better understand consumption and supply of illegally imported synthetic opioids. In this report, they provide their findings and recommendations.
Sep 9, 2019
Report
The Future of Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Opioids
Deaths involving synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, increased from roughly 3,000 in 2013 to more than 30,000 in 2018. This book provides readers with insights intended to improve their understanding of the synthetic opioid problem.
Aug 29, 2019
Testimony
Testimony
Illicit Supply of Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Opioids: Transitioning Markets and Evolving Challenges: Addendum
Document submitted on August 19, 2019, as an addendum to testimony before the House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counterterrorism and Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations on July 25, 2019.
Aug 20, 2019
Report
The Synthetic Opioid Surge in the United States: Insights from Mortality and Seizure Data
The synthetic opioid surge in the United States is a public health emergency. The authors analyze drug overdose mortality and seizure data to better understand the evolution and concentration of the synthetic opioid problem in the United States.
Aug 13, 2019
Journal Article
Journal Article
Supervised Consumption Sites: A Nuanced Assessment of the Causal Evidence
Supervised consumption sites (SCS) operate in more than 10 countries. We review the higher-quality SCS literature and discuss the evidence through the lens of three types of decision makers and from three intellectual perspectives.
Aug 6, 2019
Testimony
Illicit Supply of Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Opioids: Transitioning Markets and Evolving Challenges
Testimony presented before the House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counterterrorism and Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations, on July 25, 2019.
Jul 25, 2019
Report
Contemporary Asian Drug Policy: Insights and Opportunities for Change
Changing patterns in drug use and supply can affect the well-being and development of Asian countries in many ways. RAND researchers discuss the shifting drug policy landscape in Asia, with a special focus on the Philippines, Thailand, and China.
May 15, 2019
Draft
Assessing the Evidence on Supervised Drug Consumption Sites
This working paper is part of a series of reports assessing the evidence on and arguments made about heroin-assisted treatment and supervised consumption sites and examining some of the issues associated with implementing them in the United States.
Dec 6, 2018
Report
Considering Heroin-Assisted Treatment and Supervised Drug Consumption Sites in the United States
In this mixed-methods report, the authors assess evidence on and arguments made about heroin-assisted treatment and supervised consumption sites and examine some of the issues associated with implementing them in the United States.
Dec 6, 2018
Testimony
Evolution of the U.S. Overdose Crisis: Understanding China's Role in the Production and Supply of Synthetic Opioids
Testimony presented before the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations on September 6, 2018.
Sep 6, 2018