Drug Use Forecasting Program: How Findings Are Used

• NCJ Number: 144783
• Author(s): M Smith
• Date Published: 1993
• Length: 7 pages
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice NIJ Pub
• Corporate Author: National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Program Description (Demonstrative)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: National Institute of Justice Research in Action report, December 1993.

Annotation

This report describes the Drug Use Forecasting program being conducted in 24 cities across the country and gives examples of how the data collected has been used by legislators, policymakers and researchers on the local, State and Federal levels.

Abstract

In the Drug Use Forecasting (DUF) program initiated by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), selected samples of arrestees in 24 cities are tested for use of ten specific drugs. Submission to the procedure, which also includes an interview, is voluntary and anonymous. This report provides examples of how the test findings are being used by local governments to improve their response to the associated problems of drugs and crime. With information about drug use and drug trends among arrestees, officials have been able to better allocate prevention, enforcement and treatment resources. Although the DUF programs are local, the data collected has been useful to State policymakers as well for such purposes as developing statewide profiles of drug use and supporting appropriations for statewide drug prevention and treatment programs. Even on a national level, DUF statistics have been valuable to legislators, policymakers and researchers. The report concludes with a discussion of a study NIJ is conducting to identify new audiences that would benefit from DUF data and the most effective and timely ways to communicate the information to them. 2 exhibits