Quarterly insights from the RAND Drug Policy Research Center

Want to Know If a New Drug Crisis Is Growing? Check the Wastewater

To respond rapidly to a crisis in its early stages, we need real-time warnings when drug use patterns are shifting. It's time for the U.S. to get serious about wastewater testing. Read more »

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Innovative Alcohol Sobriety Program Reduces Risk of Rearrest by Nearly 50%

An innovative statewide alcohol-monitoring program that requires drunk drivers to be tested frequently for alcohol use significantly lowers the likelihood that participants will be rearrested or have probation revoked.

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State Policies Related to Substance Use in Pregnancy

Three policy wheels illustrate the evolution from 2000 to 2015 of state policy environments related to substance use in pregnancy. Punitive or potentially punitive policies were more commonly enacted than were policies supporting treatment.

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Do We Know How to Treat Alcohol Misuse in Women?

Despite the many clinical trials that have demonstrated the effectiveness and safety of treatments for alcohol use disorder, we still know little about whether men and women respond differently to treatment. Without knowing whether recommended treatments are effective for women, women are vulnerable to the consequences of alcohol misuse.