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Report

Synthetic Opioids: An Unprecedented Crisis

Aug 28, 2019

The rise of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids is unlike any drug crisis in U.S. history. Limiting policy responses to existing approaches will likely be insufficient and may condemn many people to early deaths.
Report

How Is the Cannabis Market in Washington State Changing?

Aug 2, 2019

This report provides detailed information about state-legal cannabis production and sales in Washington, as well as insights about the total amount of THC obtained from legal and illegal sources.

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Blog

Australia's Fires, Artificial Intelligence, Fentanyl: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on Australia's devastating fires, how artificial intelligence could manipulate the masses, the fentanyl crisis, and more.

Jan 24, 2020
Testimony

Testimony

Addressing the U.S. Opioid Crisis: Using an Integrated Systems-Based Approach: Addendum

Document submitted January 21, 2020, as an addendum to testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on Opioids on December 17, 2019.

Jan 20, 2020
Blog

U.S.-Turkish Relations, Airports, Opioids: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on the future of the U.S.-Turkish partnership, helping America's commercial airports meet rising demand, the opioid crisis, and more.

Jan 17, 2020
Essay

Fentanyl: The Most Dangerous Illegal Drug in America

America's fentanyl crisis is unlike previous drug epidemics and is likely to get worse. Deaths involving it and other synthetic opioids have surged from around 3,000 in 2013 to more than 30,000 in 2018. Solving the problem requires innovative approaches and unprecedented resources.

Jan 13, 2020
Journal Article

Growth and Distribution of Buprenorphine-Waivered Providers in the United States, 2007–2017

This study sheds light on the distribution of buprenorphine-waivered prescribers over the past decade. Growth has been rapid in communities affected by the opioid crisis, but slower in rural communities, and those with lower levels of education.

Jan 8, 2020
Periodical

Periodical

RAND Review: January-February 2020

Feature stories spotlight research on America's fentanyl crisis and new approaches to clinical guideline development. The Commentary column features terrorism expert Colin Clarke on the threat of white supremacists in the United States.

Jan 6, 2020
Blog

Preventing the Winter Blues, North Korea, Opioids: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on how to ward off the winter blues, Kim Jong Un's latest threat, how to spend opioid settlement funds, and more.

Jan 3, 2020
Blog

Most Popular RAND Research of 2019

The search for lasting solutions to difficult policy problems starts with facts. Here are the 10 research projects that rand.org readers engaged with the most in 2019.

Dec 24, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

Co-use of Tobacco and Marijuana Among Young People Experiencing Homelessness in Los Angeles County

The present study is a first step in understanding the prevalence, types, and correlates of co-use in a probability sample of young tobacco users experiencing homelessness.

Dec 20, 2019
Commentary

Where Science Says to Spend Any U.S. Opioid Settlement Money

A global settlement with pharmaceutical companies has started to appear more and more likely. Even with billions of dollars, the settlement resources won't be unlimited. To avoid mistakes made in the tobacco master settlement agreement, any opioid funds must be carefully allocated.

Dec 19, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

Opioid Litigation and Maternal-Child Health: Investing in the Future

Funds from opioid litigation should be allocated in a way that benefits those most affected and reduces the risk of future harm.

Dec 19, 2019
Multimedia

Addressing the U.S. Opioid Crisis: Using an Integrated Systems-Based Approach

An overview of testimony by Bradley D. Stein presented before the Senate Judiciary Committee on December 17, 2019.

Dec 17, 2019
Testimony

Approaching the U.S. Opioid Crisis as an Ecosystem

Policymakers should think of the opioid crisis as an ecosystem and consider how its many parts interact—especially in unexpected ways. A broader view of the crisis will help those confronting it better prepare for the challenges ahead.

Dec 17, 2019
Blog

Celebrating a Milestone in Drug Policy Research

In 1989, RAND founded a new Drug Policy Research Center to provide rigorous, nonpartisan research to inform the debate on how to best address America's drug problem. Thirty years later, the center continues to do what it was created to do: improve the understanding of substance use and assess the consequences of an expanding range of drug policies.

Dec 12, 2019
Content

An In-Depth Look at the Opioid Epidemic

Opioids are powerful medicine for pain management. But many factors, including over-prescribing, misuse, and addiction, have led to a national health crisis. As policymakers and affected members of the public look for solutions, RAND Health Care examines potential policies and interventions to address both the causes and effects of the opioid crisis.

Dec 10, 2019
Blog

Hong Kong, Reducing Crime, Medical Marijuana: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on what the U.S. can do about Hong Kong, reducing crime in Chicago, medical marijuana, and more.

Dec 6, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

An Observational Study of Retail Pharmacy Naloxone Prescriptions: Differences Across Provider Specialties and Patient Populations

This article explores variation in pharmacy-dispensed naloxone by prescriber specialty and patient characteristics.

Dec 6, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

Strengths and Weaknesses of Existing Data Sources to Support Research to Address the Opioids Crisis

We conducted a scoping study to identify data sources and linking strategies commonly used in opioid studies, describe data source strengths and limitations, and highlight opportunities to use data to address public health research questions.

Dec 5, 2019
Blog

Artificial Intelligence Bias, Russia, Fentanyl: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on bias in algorithms, Russia's limits in the Middle East, understanding the fentanyl crisis, and more.

Nov 29, 2019
Commentary

What Will the Opioid Crisis Look Like in Five Years?

Evidence suggests that once a synthetic opioid like fentanyl becomes dominant in a drug market, it stays that way. With that in mind, the United States should prepare for these drugs as a lasting phenomenon.

Nov 18, 2019

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