Is Youth Drug Use Making A Comeback?

From Carnevale Associates, LLC

A new Policy Brief from Carnevale Associates, LLC raises the strong possibility of a resurgence in youth drug use.  While youth drug use declined by 29 percent from 1997 to 2006, a recent softening of indicators related to youth attitudes about the dangers of drug use and disapproval rates suggests that drug use is making a comeback.  The previous administration cut funding for drug prevention programs, which might have contributed to this softening of youth attitudes about the dangers of drug use.  Further cuts to drug prevention programs are proposed in the federal 2010 budget.  The Policy Brief notes that stopping this resurgence in youth drug use will advance a positive school climate as well as community health and safety.  This requires strengthening drug prevention efforts by funding more capacity to enable local communities to address local problems.

Carnevale Associates, LLC is a Washington, D.C. based firm that offers guidance and practical solutions to governments, organizations, and communities as they confront the public policy and program challenges of the 21st century. The firm specializes in drug and crime policy, strategic planning and communications, policy-oriented data and research, and government relations.  Its president, John Carnevale, PhD, has worked for over 20 years in drug policy for three administrations and four drug czars and provides strategic public policy advice to policy-makers and other stakeholders.  Regardless of the project, the mission of Carnevale Associates, LLC is the same: bringing practical strategic public policy solutions to clients facing real-time challenges. 

Click here for the policy brief on Youth Drug Use: http://carnevaleassociates.com/Youth%20Drug%20Use%20Comeback.pdf.