14.12.2012 Views

Epidemiology of Inhalant Abuse - Archives - National Institute on ...

Epidemiology of Inhalant Abuse - Archives - National Institute on ...

Epidemiology of Inhalant Abuse - Archives - National Institute on ...

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

FIGURE 2. Relative c<strong>on</strong>sequences <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> the use <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> cocaine, heroin,<br />

marijuana, and inhalants for 1990.<br />

OVERVIEW OF POLICY OPTIONS<br />

There are a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> alternative but not mutually exclusive policy<br />

approaches to addressing inhalant abuse. These specific approaches can<br />

be grouped into four general categories (table 1). In general,<br />

combinati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> all <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these have been implemented at the local, State, or<br />

nati<strong>on</strong>al levels and by private business. While these opti<strong>on</strong>s have been<br />

attempted to varying degrees, there is little evidence that any <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these<br />

policy alternatives have had a meaningful impact <strong>on</strong> overall rates <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

inhalant abuse. There have not been rigorous evaluati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these policy<br />

initiatives or tests <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these strategies. Advocates <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> particular strategies<br />

justify their positi<strong>on</strong>s more <strong>on</strong> theory and principle than <strong>on</strong> empirical<br />

evidence <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> effectiveness. There are a number <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> alternative but not<br />

mutually exclusive policy approaches to addressing inhalant abuse; they<br />

fall into four categories (shown in table 1). In general, combinati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g><br />

all <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these have been implemented at the local, State, or nati<strong>on</strong>al levels<br />

and by private business.<br />

While these opti<strong>on</strong>s have been attempted to varying degrees, there is little<br />

evidence that any <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these policy alternatives have had a meaningful<br />

impact <strong>on</strong> overall rates <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> inhalant abuse. There have not been rigorous<br />

evaluati<strong>on</strong>s <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> these policy initiatives. Advocates <str<strong>on</strong>g>of</str<strong>on</strong>g> particular strategies<br />

279

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!