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Drug Policy and Trends

Substance Abuse Treatment
commentary
In Opioid Policy, One Size Does Not Fit All
Bradley D. Stein @BradleyDStein
Oct 12, 2018
The Hill
Congress is addressing the opioid epidemic through new legislation intended to increase access to treatment using medications such as methadone and buprenorphine. Further investments may be required to make counseling more available, increase Medicaid reimbursement for drug treatment, and reduce the stigma associated with mental health treatment.
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Underage Substance Use
q&a
How Marijuana Ads Affect Youth: Q&A with Elizabeth D'Amico
Aug 21, 2018
RAND's Elizabeth D'Amico discusses her research on how medical marijuana advertising influences adolescents' use of—and positive attitudes toward—the drug. Los Angeles County used her findings to limit the placement of marijuana billboards and signage outside dispensaries.
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Marijuana
commentary
Why Children Need to Be Shielded from Marijuana Ads
Elizabeth J. D'Amico
Jun 18, 2018
Los Angeles Times
By design, advertising is aimed at persuading us to want something. In the case of marijuana, that something is definitely not good for teenagers.
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Underage Substance Use
commentary
Advertising and Teens in the Era of the 'Blackout Brownie'
Elizabeth J. D'Amico
May 31, 2018
USA Today
Exposure to marijuana advertising may play a significant role in shaping teen attitudes about the drug, and contribute to increased marijuana use and related negative consequences throughout adolescence. Restrictions on marijuana advertising similar to those on alcohol and tobacco would likely help limit its exposure to teens.
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Substance Use Harm Reduction
commentary
Strategies to Help Young Adults Limit Negative Consequences of Marijuana Use
Eric R. Pedersen @ericrpedersen
Feb 19, 2018
The RAND Blog
Young adults between the ages of 18 and 25 have been shown to be the most prevalent and problematic users of marijuana. There are proven strategies that people can use to help protect themselves from experiencing harmful effects.
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Marijuana
commentary
How Will Cannabis Legalization Affect Alcohol Consumption?
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer, Rosanna Smart @RosannaSmart
Feb 13, 2018
GreenState (San Francisco Chronicle)
How will legalization of recreational marijuana affect alcohol consumption? Will drinking go down because people substitute cannabis for alcohol? Or will drinking go up because cannabis and alcohol complement each other? These questions have important implications.
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United States
blog
Trump's First State of the Union: Insights from RAND
Jan 31, 2018
RAND research, analysis, and expertise provide context for the issues discussed in the president's first State of the Union address, including infrastructure, North Korea, and opioids.
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Evidence Based Health Practice
commentary
Evidence-Based Treatments May Be Casualties of War on Drugs
Matthew Chinman, Joie D. Acosta
Jan 15, 2018
The Hill
U.S. schools and community organizations face a difficult battle to keep kids safe and drug-free. They need tools to help them choose programs that will work best for youth. The National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices is such a tool, but its future is uncertain.
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Drug Policy and Trends
commentary
Is the EU Drugs Strategy Helping to Curb the Harm Caused by Drugs?
Emma Disley, Kristy Kruithof
Jan 9, 2018
E!Sharp
The EU Drugs Strategy takes a balanced approach to reduce drug demand, supply, and harm. All EU member states have a national drugs strategy, and most are aligned with the EU's. Having a coordinated voice on drug policy is valuable but is the strategy working?
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Smoking Cessation
commentary
Can Vaping Help Smokers Quit? The Real Story from a Real Story
William G. Shadel @william_shadel
Nov 16, 2017
BASIS
Evidence doesn't support using electronic cigarettes to quit smoking. In fact, doing so could even lead to reduced chances of quitting. Evidence does show that other options work, such as nicotine replacement patches or gum combined with counseling strategies.
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United States
blog
RAND's Summer Reading List for Congress
Aug 4, 2017
Hill staffers can make the most of the Congressional recess with this list of must-read research and commentary on the policy issues they will be addressing this fall.
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Drug Courts
commentary
Should California Drop Criminal Penalties for Drug Possession?
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer, Robert J. MacCoun
Jul 20, 2017
San Francisco Chronicle
Californians have a lot to consider when it comes to decriminalizing possession. But now is the time for a rigorous discussion about removing criminal penalties for drug possession, rather than rushing to judgment in the heat of a future election season.
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Cocaine
commentary
Mixed Messages: Is Cocaine Consumption in the U.S. Going Up or Down?
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer, Greg Midgette
Apr 28, 2017
Brookings - Up Front
Data lags and the elimination of the ADAM program complicate estimates of U.S. cocaine consumption. New users who haven't yet developed cocaine dependence are also a factor. It may be prudent to start planning for an increase in heavy use even before all of the evidence is in.
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Marijuana
commentary
The Future of Cannabis in the Netherlands
Stijn Hoorens @StijnHoorens
Feb 1, 2017
Volkskrant
The Netherlands should proceed cautiously in implementing any marijuana regulations, taking into account the models devised elsewhere and remembering that once enacted the rules will be difficult to change.
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Marijuana
commentary
Trump's Marijuana Options
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer
Jan 17, 2017
The Hill
The new administration has at least six options for addressing marijuana. These are not mutually exclusive, and each comes with tradeoffs. All six are compatible with a federal approach that encourages discussions about prohibition and its alternatives.
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Marijuana
commentary
The Legal Marijuana Middle Ground
Beau Kilmer @BeauKilmer
Dec 1, 2016
USA Today
There are many ways to legalize marijuana supply besides the for-profit approach. But to learn what effects various models have, the federal government will have to make it easier for states to implement some middle-ground options.
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Page 1 of 6

Drug Policy and Trends

In Opioid Policy, One Size Does Not Fit All

How Marijuana Ads Affect Youth: Q&A with Elizabeth D'Amico

Why Children Need to Be Shielded from Marijuana Ads

Advertising and Teens in the Era of the 'Blackout Brownie'

Strategies to Help Young Adults Limit Negative Consequences of Marijuana Use

How Will Cannabis Legalization Affect Alcohol Consumption?

Trump's First State of the Union: Insights from RAND

Evidence-Based Treatments May Be Casualties of War on Drugs

Is the EU Drugs Strategy Helping to Curb the Harm Caused by Drugs?

Can Vaping Help Smokers Quit? The Real Story from a Real Story

RAND's Summer Reading List for Congress

Should California Drop Criminal Penalties for Drug Possession?

Mixed Messages: Is Cocaine Consumption in the U.S. Going Up or Down?

The Future of Cannabis in the Netherlands

Trump's Marijuana Options

The Legal Marijuana Middle Ground

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