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Controlled Substances and Illegal Drugs

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Report

Synthetic Opioids: An Unprecedented Crisis

Aug 29, 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

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
Journal Article

Association of Punitive and Reporting State Policies Related to Substance Use in Pregnancy With Rates of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome

State policies that impose punitive action against pregnant women who use illicit substances are associated with higher rates of infants being born with opioid withdrawal.

Nov 15, 2019
News Release

Punishing Pregnant Women for Substance Use Is Linked to Higher Rates of Newborns Experiencing Opioid Withdrawal

State policies that impose punitive action against pregnant women who use illicit substances are associated with higher rates of infants being born with opioid withdrawal. This suggests that policymakers should instead focus on public health approaches that bolster prevention and expand access to treatment.

Nov 13, 2019
Journal Article

Early Evidence of the Impact of Cannabis Legalization on Cannabis Use, Cannabis Use Disorder, and the Use of Other Substances: Findings from State Policy Evaluations

Understanding effects of cannabis laws requires greater attention to differences in short- versus long-term effects of the laws, nuances of policies and patterns of consumption, and careful consideration of appropriate control groups.

Oct 30, 2019
Commentary

Synthetic Opioid Crisis Still Growing, Often Among Unwitting Users

Although opioid prescriptions in the U.S. have fallen, opioid overdose deaths remain at historic levels. The continued spread of fentanyl and other illicitly manufactured synthetic opioids suggests the problem could still get worse.

Oct 14, 2019
Blog

Virtual Societal Warfare, Iran, Opioids: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on the risk of virtual societal welfare, Iran's domestic debates, federal policy options for supervised consumption sites, and more.

Oct 11, 2019
Research Brief

Understanding America's Surge in Fentanyl and Other Synthetic Opioids

Although overdose deaths from heroin and prescription opioids have declined, deaths involving synthetic opioids are on the rise. Much of the current wave of overdoses is linked to one synthetic opioid: fentanyl.

Oct 7, 2019
Blog

China's 70th Anniversary, Wargaming, Fentanyl: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on what the future holds for China, the importance of gender diversity in wargaming, how Army families address life's challenges, and more.

Oct 4, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

College Attendance Type and Subsequent Alcohol and Marijuana Use in the U.S.

This study examines the associations between college attendance and subsequent alcohol and marijuana use behaviors at multiple ages during young adulthood and adulthood, while rigorously controlling for baseline differences by college type.

Sep 24, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

Uruguay's Middle-Ground Approach to Cannabis Legalization

This article discusses cannabis legalization in the Western Hemisphere, specifically Uruguay and the United States.

Sep 23, 2019
Journal Article

Access to Office-Based Buprenorphine Treatment in Areas With High Rates of Opioid-Related Mortality: An Audit Study

In the six jurisdictions with the highest rate of opioid-related mortality in 2016, the most prominent barrier to accessing buprenorphine treatment was the difficulty of finding clinicians.

Sep 23, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

Big Data on a Big New Market: Insights from Washington State's Legal Cannabis Market

This article examines the cannabis market in Washington state post-legalization, and the variety of products available to consumers.

Sep 20, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

Triangulating Web & General Population Surveys: Do Results Match Legal Cannabis Market Sales?

This paper combines complementary attributes of web and general population surveys to estimate cannabis consumption and spending in Washington State.

Sep 20, 2019
Journal Article

Journal Article

Causes of Hospital Admission and Mortality Among People Who Use Heroin: A Cohort Study Comparing Relative and Absolute Risks

Age- and sex-specific mortality and hospital admission rates in the general population of London.

Sep 17, 2019
Journal Article

Who Receives Naloxone from Emergency Medical Services? Characteristics of Calls and Recent Trends

Administration of naloxone by emergency medical services personnel is increasing faster than opioid-related deaths.

Sep 17, 2019
Blog

Hurricane Dorian, Al Qaeda, Veterans' Health: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap looks at Hurricane Dorian recovery, al Qaeda 18 years after 9/11, veterans' mental health care, and more.

Sep 13, 2019

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