Assessment of Methods Used by State and Local Governments to Estimate Drug Abuse Levels: Summary

• NCJ Number: 133109
• Date Published: 1990
• Author(s): R H Milkman; E McDevitt; R Feldman; N Landson
• Length: 52 pages
• Grant Number(s): 87-IJ-CX-0043
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical); Survey

Annotation

This summary of a survey of 200 jurisdictions and case studies of 12 States with exemplary approaches summarizes information about how State and local governments assess the extent of drug abuse.

Abstract

Information was sought from all 50 States, the District of Columbia, 73 cities, and 81 counties. Responses came from 48 States, 68 percent of the cities, and 56 percent of the counties. Results demonstrated that most jurisdictions use arrest data for drug use or possession and records from drug treatment programs to estimate drug abuse levels. Other information sources include other arrest data, drug-related death information, national and State school surveys, and national household surveys. The most common method of data analysis is the development of informal estimates such as trend lines. Assessments were viewed as most accurate when used to estimate trends in drug use and the total amount of drug use. Results indicated the need to improve data collection techniques and analytical methods. Figures and descriptions of exemplary programs. For related reports, see NCJ-133108 and 133110-11.