Drug misuse: sustained national efforts are necessary for prevention, response, and recovery : report to the Congress

Drug misuse: sustained national efforts are necessary for prevention, response, and recovery : report to the Congress

Collection:
Health Policy and Services Research
Contributor(s):
United States. Government Accountability Office, issuing body.
United States. Congress, issuing body.
Publication:
Washington, DC : United States Government Accountability Office, March 2020
Language(s):
English
Format:
Text
Subject(s):
Drug Misuse -- trends
Drug Overdose -- prevention & control
Government Regulation
Substance-Related Disorders -- prevention & control
United States
United States. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Genre(s):
Technical Report
Abstract:
Why GAO did this study. Drug misuse—the use of illicit drugs and the misuse of prescription drugs— has been a persistent and longstanding public health issue in the United States. Ongoing drug control efforts seek to address drug misuse through education and prevention, addiction treatment, and law enforcement and drug interdiction, as well as programs that serve populations affected by drug misuse. These efforts involve federal, state, local, and tribal governments as well as community groups and the private sector. In recent years, the federal government has spent billions of dollars and has enlisted more than a dozen agencies to address drug misuse and its effects. This report provides information on (1) trends in drug misuse (2) costs and other effects of drug misuse on society and the economy, and (3) challenges the nation faces in addressing the drug crisis. GAO analyzed nationally representative federal data on drug misuse and deaths from overdoses for 2002–2018 (the most recent available); reviewed selected empirical studies published from 2014–2019; and compared GAO’s High-Risk list criteria to findings and recommendations in over 75 GAO reports issued from fiscal year 2015 through March 2020. What GAO recommends. Since fiscal year 2015, GAO has made over 80 recommendations to multiple agencies responsible for addressing the drug crisis; over 60 of these recommendations have yet to be implemented.
Copyright:
The National Library of Medicine believes this item to be in the public domain. (More information)
Extent:
1 online resource (1 PDF file (ii, 46 pages))
Illustrations:
Illustrations
NLM Unique ID:
9918284266806676 (See catalog record)
Permanent Link:
http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/9918284266806676