The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #68663

Duane C. McBride, PhD, Institute for the Prevention of Addiction, Andrews University, U.S. 31, Berrien Springs, MI 49104, 269-471-3576, mcbride@andrews.edu and Rosalie Liccardo Pacula, PhD, Health Program, RAND Corporation, 1700 Main Street, P.O. Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138.

Session Abstract:

There has been considerable national debate about which drug policies are the most effective at reducing drug use and its negative consequences. States appear to be the most active testing ground for developing new strategies and policies. In this session, we present state, community and school-level data collected as part of the Bridging the Gap initiative, describe the variation in state and community approaches to drug policy, and examine the relationship between specific policy strategies and youth drug attitudes and behaviors. Specifically, four papers will be presented. The first presentation discusses trends in state drug scheduling and statutory penalties for selected drugs from 1999-2001. The second analysis describes variation in state medical marijuana laws and will examine the association between specific aspects of these laws and youth marijuana use. The third presentation examines the availability and use of school-based treatment services and evaluates how they relate to student drug and alcohol use. Finally, the fourth presentation presents findings describing the relationship between juvenile justice processing outcomes for first-time marijuana possession offenders and youth marijuana use and attitudes. Taken as a whole, these analyses suggest that scientific research of state and community policies could play a significant role in informing the national policy debate.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of this session the participant will be able to:
• 1. Describe the variance in state drug scheduling practices as well as statutory penalties for the possession and sales of selected drugs and their implications for future research.
• 2. Discuss the variance in state medical marijuana policies and the possible relationship between these policies and youth marijuana use.
• 3. Describe the availability and use of substance abuse treatment services for youth in a national school sample and discuss the relationship between treatment availability and youth drug attitudes and use behavior.
• 4. Discuss the relationship between the severity of community juvenile justice processing outcomes for juvenile marijuana possession offenders and community youth attitudes about marijuana and marijuana use.

Keywords: Other Drugs, Public Policy

Related Web page: www.impacteen.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Bridging the Gap/ImpacTeen Project
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.