Lies, damned lies, and drug war statistics : a critical analysis of claims made by the office of National Drug Control Policy

Title:

Author:

Robinson, Matthew B.

ISBN:

9780791469750

9780791469767

Personal Author:

Robinson, Matthew B.

Publication Information:

Albany : State University of New York Press, c2007.

Physical Description:

xviii, 268 p. : ill. ; 23 cm.

Contents:

Introduction -- About America's drug war -- Methodology -- Claims of success in reducing drug use -- Claims of success in healing America's drug users and disrupting drug markets -- Costs of the drug war -- A fair assessment of America's drug war -- Conclusions and policy recommendations.

Corporate Subject:

United States. Office of National Drug Control Policy

Subject Term:

Drug control -- United States.

Drug control -- United States -- Statistics.

Drug abuse -- Government policy -- United States.

Drug abuse -- United States -- Statistics.

Added Author:

Scherlen, Renee G., 1962-

Electronic Access:

Table of contents only http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/ecip069/2006007115.html

Copies:

Available:*

Library	Material Type	Item Barcode	Shelf Number	Copy	Status
Searching... 1:IIEMSA	1:GEN-BOOK	33168020399255	363.450973 R663L 2007	1	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

This book critically analyzes claims made by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), the White House agency of accountability in the nation's drug war. Specifically, the book examines six editions of the annual National Drug Control Strategy between 2000 and 2005 to determine if ONDCP accurately and honestly presents information or intentionally distorts evidence to justify continuing the war on drugs.

Matthew B. Robinson and Renee G. Scherlen uncover the many ways in which ONDCP manipulates statistics and visually presents that information to the public. Their analysis demonstrates a drug war that consistently fails to reduce drug use, drug fatalities or illnesses associated with drug use; fails to provide treatment for drug dependent users; and drives up the prices of drugs. They conclude with policy recommendations for reforming ONDCP's use of statistics, as well as how the nation fights the war on drugs.