The State of Support for Research on the Epidemiology, Prevention, and Treatment of Drug Use and Drug Use Disorders in the USA

Abstract

This article describes the challenge of sustaining a balanced agenda for drug use research in the USA to advance understanding of the nature and extent of drug use and drug use disorders in a population; the processes and mechanisms that underlie onset, continuing, and stopping drug dependence; how to effectively prevent the onset of and early drug use as well as the social and health consequences of such use; and how to treat and maintain those with drug use disorders. This review concludes with recommendations to achieve sustained stability of funding for and to promote the progress of epidemiologic, prevention, and treatment policy research.

Keywords :

• drug use
• drug use disorder
• research
• funding
• epidemiology
• prevention
• treatment
• risk factors

Notes

2 The terms used to describe drug use have developed over time. In 1932, the American Psychiatric Association defined drug use as “… illegal, nonmedical use of a limited number of substances … which have properties of altering the mental state in ways that are considered by social norms and defined by statute to be inappropriate, undesirable, harmful, threatening, or, at minimum, culture-alien” (Glasscote, Sussex, Jaffe, Ball, & Brill, 1932). It was not until 1994 with the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Ed. (DSM-IV) that diagnostic guidelines were developed by the American Psychiatric Association.

3 The National Survey on Drug Use and Health is a population-based survey conducted annually with a representative sample of domiciled persons aged 12 and older to collect incidence and prevalence data on substance use and substance use disorders, attitudes and perceptions about the use of substances, treatment experiences, etc. Such data have been collected since 1975 although sampling designs, mode of data collection, and timing of surveys have varied.

4 The Drug Abuse Warning Network collects information on episodes of visits to emergency departments of sentinel hospitals across the USA.

5 The National Survey of Substance Treatment Services is a point-prevalence survey of states that collects information on the organizational structure, services provided, and active client characteristics of primarily public treatment providers.

6 The Treatment Episode Data Set collects information on treatment client admissions and discharges.

7 Although current research is being developed, implemented, and assessed within an “evidence-based” culture; the choice of funding research for three or five years, or once or twice, is arbitrary and is not based upon empirically driven policymaking. Editor's note.

8 The Virtual Collaboratory is an Internet-based suite of software products designed to facilitate communications among researchers. The NIDA International Virtual Collaboratory is composed of researchers and policymakers focused on drug abuse research, prevention, and treatment distributed throughout the world.