217628 Relationship between drug morbidity and mortality and the DEA's scheduling of drugs

Wednesday, November 10, 2010 : 1:20 PM - 1:45 PM

Victoria A. Albright, MA , Public Health and Clinical Research Program, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC
Elizabeth H. Crane, PhD, MPH , Drug Abuse Warning Network, Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, MD
DEA drug schedule classification decisions are required to be made on criteria that include the potential for abuse; other criteria include currently accepted medical uses and international treaties. This paper explores the relationship between the adverse effects of drugs (measured in morbidity and mortality) and the assignment of drugs to DEA schedules. Measures of drug-related morbidity and mortality are collected by SAMHSA's Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), an extensive and detailed survey of emergency room visits and deaths that involve the use of any and all types of drugs, medications, pharmaceuticals, etc., taken for any reason. Given the limited resources in the nation to combat and treat the harm resulting from drug abuse, it is important that the health and enforcement communities work together to gain momentum and synergies. The goal of the analysis is to assess how well drug enforcement priorities align with health consequences of drug misuse and abuse. This is a controversial topic with far-reaching consequences for the funding of both drug enforcement and substance abuse intervention programs. Sentencing in drug-related convictions is also highly affected.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Public health or related laws, regulations, standards, or guidelines
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Demonstrate the misalignment of drug enforcement priorities and health consequences of drug misuse and abuse.

Keywords: Drug Abuse, Policy/Policy Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the principal analyst for the Drug Abuse Warning Network and have extensive and unique experience assessing the relationship between morbdity and mortality involving drug use as measured by the DAWN data system.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.