What If Drug Use Data Came Out and No One Talked About Them?

Jacob Sullum | September 10, 2009

The latest results from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health were released today, but it was easy not to notice. Drug warriors traditionally use the government's survey data to trumpet their successes and/or emphasize the need for continued vigilance (and funding). But in a break from the usual practice, it seems that neither the Office of National Drug Control Policy nor the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has issued a press release about the new results. The only news story I can find about the latest numbers is this Dow Jones report, which emphasizes a small decline in "the number of Americans abusing prescription drugs," which fell by about 1 million, or 6 percent, between 2007 and 2008. The story adds that "the percentage of people using illegal drugs held steady over the same time frame."

Dow Jones asked Robert Denniston, director of the ONDCP's National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, about the decline in nonmedical use of prescription drugs. Denniston, a Bush administration holdover, warned that it's hard to "unravel all the multiple factors" that contribute to ups and downs in drug use but nevertheless claimed "a push by the federal government and a host of anti-drug organizations and local communities to alert parents about the potential perils of giving kids easy access to prescription drugs is having an impact." In particular, he cited this ONDCP-sponsored Super Bowl ad. Far be it from me to rain on the ONDCP's Super Bowl parade, but how can an ad aimed at convincing parents to keep an eye on the contents of their medicine cabinets account for a decline in nonmedical use of prescription drugs that occurred among adults as well as teenagers?

Aside from Denniston's comments, which apparently were solicited by Dow Jones, the Obama administration does not seem to be talking about the NSDUH results. I take its silence on this subject, like the president's omission of the obligatory stay-off-drugs message from Tuesday's speech to high school students, as a positive sign. By contrast, the Bush administration rarely, if ever, passed up an opportunity to fan the flames of anti-drug hysteria. The Marijuana Policy Project's Bruce Mirken suggests why former ONDCP head John Walters, who has continued to push hardline drug policies since leaving office, is not likely to call attention to the new NSDUH data either: They show marijuana use, Walters' main target, is essentially unchanged from 2002, the second year of the Bush administration and the first year of the survey (data from its predecessor, the National Household Survey on Drug Abuse, are not directly comparable, but if anything suggest an increase in pot smoking during Walters' tenure).

Comments

Rich|9.10.09 @ 2:53PM|#

National Survey on Drug Use or and Health

In these days of modern time, I can't believe they use this acronym.

Joe M|9.10.09 @ 2:53PM|#

This is the only bright spot in his administration. Now, if only he would've stopped those raids in Cali.

|9.10.09 @ 2:57PM|#

I guess the opposite of "create or save" is "destroy or prevent".

|9.10.09 @ 3:08PM|#

I take the Obama administration's silence on this subject, like the president's omission of the obligatory stay-off-drugs message from Tuesday's speech to high school students, as a positive sign.

Sadly, when it comes to any issue I care about, the best I can hope for from the Obama administration is that they remain silent on the subject.

not a fan of CASA|9.10.09 @ 3:10PM|#

So when is notorious data-fudger Joe Califano going to comment?

$|9.10.09 @ 3:32PM|#

Now, if only he would've stopped those raids in Cali.

He said he would, and then he didn't, but he didn't say he didn't, so that's positive.

jasno|9.10.09 @ 3:36PM|#

I'd be willing to bet that the decline in Rx drug use is just due to teens seeing their friends end up in rehab trying to kick an Oxycodone habit. Opiate withdrawls are a bitch and they're the most effective anti-drug you can have.

At least it's looking like yesterday's raids in San Diego were locally grown and the DEA only provided 'assistance' but time will tell... http://lastblogonearth.com/ (story on the raids)

</|9.10.09 @ 4:34PM|#

I'd be willing to bet that the decline in Rx drug use is just due to teens seeing their friends end up in rehab trying to kick an Oxycodone habit.

I'd be willing to bet you are totally full of shit.

jasno|9.10.09 @ 5:23PM|#

Probably, but not completely. I've talked to multiple younger folks who have stated that large numbers of their friends have either been through or are currently in rehab for Oxy addiction. That's not scientific or anything, but it surprised me - not being from a generation that did a lot of pills. I think I only knew one guy who did Percocet back in '90.

So it's anecdotal evidence at best. What do you got?

</|9.10.09 @ 9:47PM|#

jasno,

Oxy is very expensive on the secondary market.Even if you get it for free, via the medicine cabinet, you would have to have multiple family members dying of terminal cancer to inherit enough to build up an actual habit.Teens can't really doctor shop very easily either.Live friends and family with oxy 'scripts tend to need and/or enjoy it and keep a very close count on the pills.

PicassoIII|9.10.09 @ 10:59PM|#

Fascinating,
I'd just posted this over on Siegel's Tobacco blog to do some Pharma bashing.
But seriously; second to cannibis and 1st for 12-13yo kids!
We jail growers, sponsor para military action against foriegn nationals (on their own soil) but certain executives go to cocktail parties in DC.
Count crystal meth even, as they make the starting materials and make a profit ... very similar to gun manufacturers, LOL.
*sigh*