NCJ Number
120051
Date Published
1989
Length
15 pages
Annotation
Sixty percent of the National Institute of Justice's research funding is now directed at various aspects of drug control -- identifying trends, examining drug-crime links, assessing innovations such as use of civil laws and sanctions against drug dealers and sellers, and gathering information on how drug prevention and treatment can be made more effective.
Abstract
One of the key obstacles in attacking the drug problem is getting the hard facts about drug use. The Drug Use Forecasting (DUF) program uses voluntary, scientific urinalysis tests to detect drug use among arrested persons, rather than relying on dubious self reports. The DUF profile gives accurate data on trends and patterns in the use of specific drugs such as cocaine and heroin. It also serves as a "leading indicator" of changes in crime rates and other drug-related community problems.