Assessing the Nature and Dimensions of the Drug Problem

Abstract

Over the years, various attempts have been made to define, describe and measure the nature and dimensions of psychoactive drug use in the United States. The purpose of this article is to address the problems of definition associated with the traditional concept of "drug abuse"; to examine the various formulations of "the drug problem"; to assess the efficacy of the survey method and other research techniques currently utilized to estimate the nature and extent of drug use; and to report on some of the efforts made by the National Commission on Marihuana and Drug Abuse to provide guidance and direction in this area to researchers and policy makers alike.