Response to the National Research Council's Assessment of RAND's Controlling Cocaine Study
Abstract
A 1994 RAND study, Controlling Cocaine: Supply Versus Demand Programs (Rydell and Everingham), drew widely cited conclusions regarding the relative cost-effectiveness of spending additional drug control moneys on treatment and various modes of enforcement. A National Research Council (NRC) committee last year issued a critique of that report concluding that it was not a good basis for policymaking. Modeling is an inexact science, and there is plenty of room for experts to disagree on methods and conclusions. We feel, however, that the NRC's critique warrants a reply, for two reasons. First, it appears to rest on incomplete information regarding the RAND model. Our differences with the assessment are thus not simply a matter of varying judgment or opinion. Second, the critique was issued by a distinguished panel at the request of the Office of National Drug Control Policy. Barring objection, we fear that many in the drug policy community may tend to accept the conclusions of the panel as the last word on this topic.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA385257
Entities
People
- James Chiesa
- Jonathan P. Caulkins
- Susan S. Everingham
Organizations
- RAND Corporation