Carnevale Associates LLC has published several products under the auspices of its practice groups that specialize in strategic planning, performance management, research and evaluation, strategic communications, and event meeting strategic support and evaluation.. Carnevale Associates LLC is committed to making publications such as strategic plans, information briefs, and policy briefs available to policy-makers, professionals, and other stakeholders.

The Research and Policy Analysis group of Carnevale Associates LLC publishes Information Briefs and Policy Briefs covering important policies, trends, and data related to substance abuse. These briefs are designed to inform policy officials, practitioners, and the public about new and emerging substance abuse issues. If you are interested in receiving future Information and Policy Briefs when they are published, please register by entering your email:

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Information and Policy Briefs

Fixing Drug Policy, October 2008.  As the United States prepares for a new Presidential administration to take the helm of the fight against drugs, this Policy Brief suggests that we stand at a crossroads. Drug use survey data as well as public opinion reflect a lack of progress on both demand and supply reduction fronts. Drug use initiation continues unabated, poppy and coca cultivation levels are at near record levels, and three out of every four Americans think that the nation is losing its war on drugs. This Policy brief offers the next administration a “back to basics approach” including three essential principles for any effective national drug policy: (1) the adoption of policies grounded in research; (2) the development of a budget that meaningfully supports these policies; and (3) the maintenance of a performance measurement system that ensures accountability.

Federal Drug Budget Trend:  Least Effective Programs Being Emphasized, February 2008.  This Policy Brief shows that federal drug control budget since federal fiscal year 2002 has emphasized the least effective ingredients of an evidence-based drug control policy.  Our analysis shows that the current administration has favored supply reduction programs over demand reduction programs to achieve its goal of reducing the demand for drugs.  Funding for treatment and prevention are emphasized the least over this period (prevention is actually cut). The mismatch between the budget and what evidence shows is effective programming translates into almost a decade of poor performance and lost opportunity for success.

Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs Effective, August 2007. This Information Brief describes the results of a recent study that concludes that state sponsored prescription drug monitoring programs are effective at reducing the per capita supply of prescription pain relievers and stimulants and, in turn, reduce the probability of abuse for these drugs. 

FY 2008 Federal Drug Budget:  Prevention Funding Continues to Decline, February 2007. This Policy Brief describes the Bush Administration’s FY 2008 drug budget request. That request would dramatically cut funding for substance abuse prevention and place more emphasis on border control and overseas programs.  More troubling is that the budget request continues the long-term trend in this administration away from a balanced drug control strategy that encompasses treatment, prevention, law enforcement, interdiction, and overseas programs. Instead, as this Policy Brief shows, national drug control policy has become more oriented toward overseas and interdiction programs.

NREPP Offers Prevention/Treatment Providers Decision Support Tool, April 2006. This information brief describes SAMHSA's new National Registry of Evidence-Based Programs and Practices (NREPP).  Substance abuse providers can start using NREPP at the end 2006 to select evidence-based programs and practices. This new tool will replace the SAMHSA Center for Substance Abuse Prevention's registry of promising, effective, and model programs.

Federal Commitment to School-Based Drug Prevention Diminishing, March 2006. This policy brief demonstrates that the Bush administration’s national drug control strategy seeks to end federal support for school-based substance abuse prevention programs. Such programs have long been a staple of the national drug control strategy because they are effective and reach many adolescents in a single location.

The Administration's Proposed FY'07 Drug Budget, February 2006. This policy brief shows that the administration's proposed drug budget for FY 2007 emphasizes supply reduction over demand reduction.  It questions the relevancy of the administration's request in light of serious domestic problems confronting drug control.

CitiStat, January 2006. This information brief provides background information about a new philosophy of governing being implemented across many local communities.  It discusses how performance accountability is being integrated into day-to-day government operations to improve service quality and performance.

Designing a Local Drug Control Strategy, September 2005.  This information brief discusses two cities that have successfully developed and implemented substance abuse strategies to reduce drug use and its consequences.

National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws—Performance Results, May 2005.
NAMSDL uses a performance-based approach to assist states in developing comprehensive state drug and alcohol laws, policies, and programs. This brief looks at how NAMSDL achieves results through the use of performance-oriented state Summits designed to assess current drug and alcohol efforts and to craft recommendations and actions plans for strengthening laws, policies, and programs.

The Program Assessment Rating Tool and the Federal Drug Control Budget, April 2005.
According to the 2005 National Drug Control Strategy, PART was central to budget decision making for the FY 2006 drug budget proposed by the Administration. This information brief provides background about the government’s Performance Assessment Rating Tool (PART) and reviews its use in shaping the FY 2006 federal drug control budget.

SAMHSA's Strategic Prevention Framework, January 2005.  The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration recently adopted the Strategic Prevention Framework (SPF) to enable states and communities to build the infrastructure necessary for effective and sustainable prevention. This brief provides an overview of the SPF and includes examples of milestones and products for each of the five steps of the framework.

Campus Drug Courts, December 2004.  Alcohol and other drug (AOD) use is a prevalent and troublesome health problem facing colleges and universities. Some institutions of higher learning are seeking new and creative ways to combat AOD use. This brief examines the problem and one innovative approach--the use of a campus drug court program--pioneered by Colorado State University.

Methamphetamine, October 2004. References   The manufacture of meth is a dangerous process that causes a myriad of problems affecting citizens and the environment. This brief examines states' responses to methamphetamine production, including statutes and/or regulations, implementing policy changes and creating guidelines to address various aspects of methamphetamine production and minimize its harm.

Illicit Drug Use, September 2004.  This brief provides an analysis of data reported by the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). While information from the NSDUH is widely reported, this information brief is focused on highlighting areas of statistically significant change that have implications for current or future national drug policy.

Drug Law Enforcement, March 2005.  The President’s FY 2006 Budget includes overall reductions in federal support for state and local drug law enforcement, domestic intelligence, and intergovernmental and inter-jurisdictional drug law enforcement cooperation. This brief examines how the budget will change the federal role in drug law enforcement and will leave state and local governments with difficult choices if they try to maintain law enforcement efforts aimed at combating drug trafficking and drug-related crime.

The Federal Drug Budget - Major Changes to Occur in Fiscal Year 2006, February 2005.
The President’s FY 2006 Budget portends major changes in federal drug control policy by shifting more responsibility for domestic drug control to state and local governments and other partners as the federal government focuses increased resources on international and interdiction programs to curb the flow of drugs from abroad. This brief looks at the impact of the budget request on the federal drug control program and examines its policy implications.

Prescription Drug Abuse – The Silent Epidemic, November 2004.  Over 6.3 million people use prescription drugs nonmedically on a current or past month basis. Statistics suggest that the nation has been experiencing an epidemic for at least seven years. The policy brief examines what must be done to address prescription drug abuse. Specifically, it looks at the responsibilities of pharmaceutical companies and the adoption of prescription drug monitoring programs by states.

Drug Endangered Children, October 2004. References  The growth in methamphetamine production and use has grown significantly over the past decade. As a result significant numbers of children have been endangered. This policy brief looks at the dangers posed to children, current approaches to dealing with those dangers, and policy issues that need to be addressed improve our ability to understand and respond to this problem.

Drug Strategies

DC Substance Abuse Strategy. [Executive Summary]
This is the first ever citywide substance abuse strategy for the nation's capitol. The DC Substance Abuse Strategy presents goals, objectives, and performance targets to measure progress and to develop a comprehensive inventory of substance abuse program spending for all District departments and agencies.

Rochester Drug Strategy
The drug strategy created in Rochester, New York, demonstrates how a public/private partnership can serve in the development of a comprehensive strategic plan to address a cross-cutting social problem.