The Drug Policy Project of the Federation of American Scientists is built around three convictions:
The key to better outcomes is to start to judge drug control policies by their predictable results, where the measure of success is minimization of aggregate damage. This applies to the currently licit drugs, alcohol and nicotine, as well as those substances now banned entirely or restricted to medical use alone.
The Project has two ongoing activities: the quarterly Drug Policy Analysis Bulletin and FAS ADAPT (Analysis and Dialogue for Drug-abuse Policies and Tactics).
The Drug Policy Analysis Bulletin publishes concise articles that bring research and analysis to bear on the problems of drug abuse control. (For the full text of any of the first four issues, click below.)
FAS ADAPT has brought together a group of experts from diverse disciplines and political views to define a set of drug policies that would represent a "third way" between an unreflective toughening of policy toward the currently illicit drugs - in the extreme, an unrestricted "war on drugs" - and and unreflective loosening of those policies - in the extreme, complete "legalization." ADAPT will try to help the broader politial discourse on drug policy break away from the polarization between "hawks" and "doves" and begin to pay attention to the crucial details of the policy choices before us.
The general statement of FAS ADAPT bears the title "Principles for Practical Drug Policies." (Click below for text, signatory list, and press release.)
FAS ADAPT is now assembling working groups to address specific drug policy topics, such as sentencing, retail law enforcement, treatment, and alcohol regulation.
Drug Policy Analysis Bulletin:
The Drug Policy Analysis Bulletin is published as part of the Federation of American Scientists' effort to address policy issues of global impact. Founded in 1945 by Manhattan Project scientists, the Federation of American Scientists (FAS) is a national organization of natural and social scientists and engineers dedicated to the responsible use of science and technology.
Current and past issues of the Bulletin are available in its entirely online at http://www.fas.org/drugs. If you would like to receive printed copies of our upcoming issues in the mail or a PDF version via email, please contact Douglas Ross.
Readers who find news items and research reports that warrant coverage are encouraged to send notes, with links if possible, to Mark Kleiman with a copy to Douglas Ross.
The Bulletin is edited by Mark A.R. Kleiman of the School of Public Policy and Social Research at UCLA. Please direct comments or questions about the contents of this newsletter to Dr. Kleiman at 310/206-3234 or by e-mail at kleiman@ucla.edu. The Managing Editor is Douglas Ross.
Members of the editorial board include (affiliations for identification only): Peter Reuter (chair), University of Maryland; M. Douglas Anglin, UCLA; David Boyum, BOTEC Analysis Corporation; Jonathan Caulkins, Carnegie-Mellon University; Gary Emmett, Thomas Jefferson University; Wayne Hall, University of New South Wales; Robert MacCoun, UC Berkeley; Douglas Ross, MayaTech Corporation; Sally Satel, American Enterprise Institute; Charles R. Schuster, Wayne State University; Eric E. Sterling, Criminal Justice Policy Foundation.
Principles for Practical Drug Policies:
Other Publications:
For further information, please contact Professor Mark Kleiman at kleiman@ucla.edu
Drug Policy Analysis Bulletin
c/o Federation of American Scientists
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