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Making the Drug Problem Smaller, 2001-2008

NCJ Number
225184
Date Published
December 2008
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This report documents the reduction in drug use in recent years, particularly among youth, and describes ways in which this reduction has been achieved.
Abstract
Drug use is down, with the use of some drugs at or near historic lows. Evidence is building that these reductions result from innovations in the ways youth are educated about the harms of illegal drugs, help provided to those already involved in drug use, and the interdiction of drugs smuggled across U.S. borders. The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign has recently used more sophisticated advertising techniques and best practices, along with new technologies widely used by youth, such as social networking site and text messaging. This has increased youths’ perceptions of the risk and social disapproval of drug use. Further, the Partnership for a Drug Free America has launched an unprecedented effort to educate parents about the harms of drug misuse. In addition, student drug testing has increased in popularity over the past 8 years. The effort to contain drug use among youth has been further aided by an upsurge in local community groups committed to reducing drug and alcohol use among youth. An effort to help those who have begun drug or alcohol use but who do not believe they need treatment involves “brief interventions” during this “honeymoon” phase of drug use. This effort involves the use of medical practitioners in identifying problem drinkers and drug users, followed by appropriate and often brief interventions. Such brief interventions are apparently contributing to a reduction in drug use according to data from workplace drug testing. Finally, the increase in drug seizures and disruption south of the U.S. border has driven up the price of both cocaine and methamphetamine, a key condition for reducing use. 11 figures