Technologies for Understanding the Root Causes of Substance Abuse and Addiction:Contribution of Drug Availability to Drug Use and Abuse

摘要

This report presents the results of an exploratory study of the relationshipbetween drug availability and use and abuse of drugs. The initial inquiry took several forms, including: a review of the professional literature; a comprehensive search of the popular media; and exploratory survey of the field; a 'snowball sample' of key informants; an a two-day workshop attended by researchers, policy analysts, and practitioners with an interest in the impact of availability on substance abuse. This exploratory inquiry suggests a need to: articulate the concept of availability as it related to illicit drugs and operationalize variables for research; replicate selected studies of alcohol availability from the perspective of illicit drugs; and identify, evaluate, and model some of the successful innovative, multi-dimensional (including grass roots) efforts to reduce substance use and abuse throughout the U.S.