Lies, Damned Lies, and Drug War Statistics : A Critical Analysis of Claims Made by the Office of National Drug Control Policy

__Uncovers how the Office of National Drug Control Policy uses and misuses statistical evidence.__ Lies,Damned Lies, and Drug War Statistics......Page 4 CONTENTS......Page 6 List of Figures and Tables......Page 10 Preface......Page 14 Acknowledgments......Page 18 Part One......Page 20 1. Introduction......Page 22 Ideology......Page 27 Claims-Making and Moral Panics......Page 28 Policy Analysis......Page 35 Key Historical Events in the Drug War......Page 38 Goals of the Drug War......Page 55 Agencies That Fight the Drug War......Page 57 Drug War Budgets......Page 60 Part Two......Page 66 3. Methodology......Page 68 What We Did......Page 70 How We Did It......Page 71 Data Sources......Page 72 Limitations of Drug Data......Page 74 General Drug Use Trends for Adults and Youth......Page 78 Marijuana......Page 101 Cocaine......Page 102 Heroin......Page 103 Ecstasy......Page 104 Other Drugs......Page 106 ONDCP Emphasizes Prevention (But Does Not Fund It)......Page 110 Claims of Success in Healing America’s Drug Users......Page 112 Claims of Success in Disrupting Drug Markets......Page 123 Economic Costs......Page 146 Nonpunitive Drug War?......Page 151 Blurring Costs of Drugs and Costs of the Drug War......Page 153 Deaths......Page 156 Emergency Room Mentions......Page 160 Drugs and Crime......Page 161 Part Three......Page 170 7. A Fair Assessment of America’s Drug War......Page 172 Reducing Drug Use......Page 175 Healing Drug Users......Page 183 Disrupting Illicit Drug Markets......Page 186 Reducing Drug-Related Crime and Violence......Page 191 Reducing Health and Social Costs to the Public......Page 194 Costs of the Drug War......Page 195 Benefits of the Drug War......Page 198 Lessons from History......Page 200 Findings......Page 202 A Fair Assessment of America’s Drug War......Page 213 A Rational Response to ONDCP Failure......Page 217 Policy Implications:Evaluating the Drug War and Using Statistics......Page 219 Policy Implications: Drug War......Page 221 Postscript......Page 226 Appendix......Page 240 Notes......Page 244 Index......Page 278 C......Page 280 D......Page 281 H......Page 282 I......Page 283 M......Page 284 O......Page 285 S......Page 286 V......Page 287 Lies,Damned Lies, and Drug War Statistics 4 CONTENTS 6 List of Figures and Tables 10 Preface 14 Acknowledgments 18 Part One 20 1. Introduction 22 Ideology 27 Claims-Making and Moral Panics 28 Policy Analysis 35 2. About America’s Drug War 38 Key Historical Events in the Drug War 38 Goals of the Drug War 55 Agencies That Fight the Drug War 57 Drug War Budgets 60 Part Two 66 3. Methodology 68 What We Did 70 How We Did It 71 Data Sources 72 Limitations of Drug Data 74 4. Claims of Success in Reducing Drug Use 78 General Drug Use Trends for Adults and Youth 78 Marijuana 101 Cocaine 102 Heroin 103 Ecstasy 104 Other Drugs 106 ONDCP Emphasizes Prevention (But Does Not Fund It) 110 5. Claims of Success in Healing America’sDrug Users and Disrupting Drug Markets 112 Claims of Success in Healing America’s Drug Users 112 Claims of Success in Disrupting Drug Markets 123 6. Costs of the Drug War 146 Economic Costs 146 Nonpunitive Drug War? 151 Blurring Costs of Drugs and Costs of the Drug War 153 Deaths 156 Emergency Room Mentions 160 Drugs and Crime 161 Part Three 170 7. A Fair Assessment of America’s Drug War 172 Reducing Drug Use 175 Healing Drug Users 183 Disrupting Illicit Drug Markets 186 Reducing Drug-Related Crime and Violence 191 Reducing Health and Social Costs to the Public 194 Costs of the Drug War 195 Benefits of the Drug War 198 8. Conclusions and Policy Recommendations 200 Lessons from History 200 Findings 202 A Fair Assessment of America’s Drug War 213 A Rational Response to ONDCP Failure 217 Policy Implications:Evaluating the Drug War and Using Statistics 219 Policy Implications: Drug War 221 Postscript 226 Appendix 240 Notes 244 Index 278 A 280 B 280 C 280 D 281 E 282 F 282 G 282 H 282 I 283 J 284 L 284 M 284 N 285 O 285 P 286 R 286 S 286 T 287 U 287 V 287 Uncovers how the Office of National Drug Control Policy uses and misuses statistical evidence.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.At Appalachian State University, Matthew B. Robinson is Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, and Renee G. Scherlen is Associate Professor of Political Science. Robinson is the author of several books, including Justice Blind? Ideals and Realities of American Criminal Justice, Second Edition. 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.

About the Author:
Matthew B. Robinson is Associate Professor of Criminal Justice

About the Author:
Renee G. Scherlen is Associate Professor of Political Science

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.

about The Author:
matthew B. Robinson Is Associate Professor Of Criminal Justice

about The Author:
renee G. Scherlen Is Associate Professor Of Political Science

"Revised and updated edition that analyses how the Office of National Drug Control Policy employs statistics to misleadingly claim the War on Drugs is a success"--Provided by publisher.