What Works: Effective Public Health Responses to Drug Use

摘要

The United States has historically suffered from some of the highest rates of drug abuse in the world, and, as a result, has made unparalleled investments in demand reduction research and programming. Through hard experience, we have learned much about the nature of addiction and what works in prevention and treatment. Our policies are still evolving as we seek to incorporate the latest research findings into anti-drug programs and phase out program components that do not deliver sustained, measurable results. Now, however, ten years after the United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Drugs, it is appropriate to look back and take stock of the knowledge we have gained about what works to reduce drug abuse. The United States National Drug Control Strategy seeks to put resources where research and experience have proven that they can have the greatest effect in reducing the demand for drugs in America. The results achieved over the last six years are particularly clear and instructive. Current use of any illicit drug among young people in America has declined by 24 percent since 2001. Youth marijuana use has fallen by 25 percent, MDMA (Ecstasy) by 54 percent, LSD by 60 percent, amphetamines by 32 percent, methamphetamine by 64 percent, and steroids by 33 percent. Use of alcohol and tobacco among American youth has also declined significantly (by 15 percent and 33 percent, respectively), suggesting a broad shift in youth attitudes and behavior. These results illustrate what can be achieved through the implementation of a balanced strategy that focuses on research-proven approaches. It is our hope that the significant investments made by the United States in the area of drug research and program evaluation can serve to benefit nations around the world that are confronting drug abuse problems of their own. In an effort to make this hope a reality, we have produced this publication for the international community as a guide to the demand reduction efforts that have produced results in the United States.