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Controlled Substances and Illegal Drugs

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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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Journal Article

Assessment of State and Federal Health Policies for Opioid Use Disorder Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond

Researchers summarize the multitude of ways access to and utilization of treatment for individuals with OUD might have been expanded by state and federal policy during COVID-19 pandemic in 4 key areas: telehealth, privacy, licensing, and medication.

Nov 23, 2021
Periodical

RAND Review: November-December 2021

The cover story highlights how RAND is helping to redefine high-quality care for service members with a TBI or PTSD. The Q&A with two Marines who work at RAND sheds light on how their military service informs their research and analysis.

Nov 1, 2021
Blog

'GDP2,' RAND President and CEO to Retire, Quantum Technology: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on why we should measure ‘GDP2,’ an announcement from RAND president and CEO Michael D. Rich, a look at quantum technology, and more.

Oct 29, 2021
Essay

Army Enlistment Waivers in the Age of Legal Marijuana

Army recruits with a history of marijuana use can ask for a waiver like those who have diabetes or insomnia. They are just as likely as others to complete their first term and make sergeant, and are less likely to leave the Army for health or performance reasons.

Oct 27, 2021
Commentary

Treating Supervised Drug Consumption Sites Like Cannabis

Some communities hard hit by the opioid crisis are interested in opening supervised consumption sites—places where people who use drugs can do so under supervision of trained staff. What could be done to make it easier to pilot and evaluate these sites in the United States?

Oct 22, 2021
Journal Article

Population-Based Estimates of Geographic Accessibility of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder by Substance Use Disorder Treatment Facilities from 2014 to 2020

This cross-sectional study of substance use disorder treatment facilities examined the national share of facilities that offer medication treatment for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and population-based measures of geographic accessibility of facilities offering MOUD.

Oct 22, 2021
Journal Article

Use of Buprenorphine for Those with Employer-Sponsored Insurance During the Initial Phase of the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study examined changes in the use of buprenorphine to treat opioid use disorder in 2020 during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic using pharmaceutical claims.

Oct 22, 2021
Journal Article

Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome Is Associated With Infant Foster Care Entry At The County Level

This study used a decade of data from U.S. counties to examine how rates of neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS) and county-level characteristics were associated with entry in the child welfare system.

Oct 20, 2021
Journal Article

Origins of the Opioid Crisis and Its Enduring Impacts

In this paper, we examine the role of the 1996 introduction and marketing of OxyContin as a potential leading cause of the opioid crisis.

Oct 19, 2021
Journal Article

Buprenorphine Prescriber Monthly Patient Caseloads: An Examination of 6-Year Trajectories

We examine buprenorphine-prescribing clinicians' patient caseloads over time and explore prescriber characteristics associated with different caseload trajectories.

Oct 1, 2021
Journal Article

Claims-based Measures of Prescription Opioid Utilization: A Practical Guide for Researchers

We reviewed medical literature for recent studies that use claims data to construct opioid utilization measures, then developed a guide for researchers regarding opioid utilization measures and measure definitions, and how these may influence study results.

Sep 30, 2021
Journal Article

Consensus-based Approach to Managing Opioids, Including Opioid Misuse and Opioid Use Disorder, in Patients with Serious Illness: Protocol for a Modified Delphi Process

Using a modified Delphi approach, we created seven patient cases that capture important management challenges in individuals with serious illness prescribed opioid therapy.

Sep 22, 2021
Journal Article

Pregnant Women with Substance Use Disorders: The Harm Associated with Punitive Approaches

Punishing pregnant women with SUDs has been ineffective; it's time to prioritize approaches that support pregnant women and their families.

Aug 31, 2021
Dissertation

Three Essays on the Broader Effects of the Opioid Crisis

Investigates the unintended consequences of opioid policies, OxyContin reformulation and prescription drug monitoring programs on crime, labor supply, and child welfare.

Aug 24, 2021
Blog

Historic Lynchings and Voter Registration, China in Space, Firefighters' Mental Health: RAND Weekly Recap

This weekly recap focuses on the link between historic lynchings and voter registration, Afghanistan in the era of fentanyl, supporting firefighters’ mental health, and more.

Jul 30, 2021
Report

Afghanistan in the Era of Fentanyl

Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are displacing heroin in some major drug markets. What might happen to Afghanistan—the world's largest producer of illegal opium poppy—if demand for its opiates dropped off sharply and permanently?

Jul 26, 2021
Journal Article

Informing the Development of a Standardized Clinical Definition of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: Protocol for a Modified-Delphi Expert Panel

The goal of this paper is to describe a protocol for a systematic expert panel process to inform the development of a clinical definition of neonatal abstinence syndrome.

Jul 23, 2021
Journal Article

Mental Health Conditions and Substance Use Disorders Among Youth Subsequently Diagnosed With Opioid Use Disorder or Opioid Poisoning

This study examined receipt of services for mental health conditions and non-opioid substance use disorders among privately insured adolescents and young adults (ie, youth) with subsequent clinically diagnosed opioid use disorder or opioid poisoning.

Jul 21, 2021
Journal Article

Cannabis Legalization and Social Equity: Some Opportunities, Puzzles, and Trade-Offs

Legalization for nonmedical purposes may create new sources of disproportionate harm even as it alleviates some inequities associated with cannabis prohibition.

Jul 16, 2021
Tool

How to Integrate Pharmacotherapy for Substance Use Disorders at Your Mental Health Clinic: A Step-By-Step Guide for Screening and Treating Adults with Co-Occurring Mental Illness and Alcohol and/or Opioid Use Disorders with Pharmacotherapy in Mental Health Clinics

RAND researchers provide a toolkit to support the delivery of effective, evidence-based pharmacotherapy for clients with co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders and simplify care implementation in mental health clinics.

Jul 8, 2021

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