Research project SO/01/008 (Research action SO)
1. Research aims
To date, Belgium has lacked any significant, concrete data on the drugs policy it is pursuing. No comprehensive overview exists of all the actors directly and indirectly involved, nor of differences between funding sources. Nevertheless, this is a vital component in terms of the assessment of the policy being pursued.
As far back as 1997, the parliamentary working group concluded that a regulated assessment of the measures being implemented was necessary if the intention were to adapt drug policies to developments within society (i).
The new federal drugs note also highlights the fact that the significant diversity in terms of funding sources has done nothing to promote policy transparency. An attempt to develop an insight into who funds what and a compilation of a list of consultative structures are necessary projects (ii).
The European Union action plan to combat drugs 2000-2004 states that assessment should be one component in the European approach to fighting drugs. However, it appears that the required instruments, of which cost-effectiveness is one, are not yet adequate for drug policies to be assessed and therefore have to be developed further (iii).
Outside Belgium, research has already been conducted within this context. However, the focus abroad is still confined to partial aspects of the overall research question (for example, assessment of treatment programmes for ‘problematic’ drug users (iv) ) or goes no further than estimating the cost of one aspect of drugs policy (for example, assistance or prevention (v)).
For that reason, ‘drug policy in figures’ is intended to make a significant contribution by identifying all agencies involved in drugs policy and also estimating the cost price of the various aspects of the policy being pursued. By simultaneously investigating which sections of the drug-user population are being reached by the various actors involved, it is possible to assess the benefits of the policy in respect of illegal drugs (and their users).
2. Research description
The investigation covers three phases:
PHASE A: Identification of the actors involved during drug policy implementation
Various actors play an active part in the policy on illegal drugs (and their users): agencies from the health and welfare sector, police and judicial agencies, and policy actors. An attempt will also be made to identify and list all existing consultative and coordinating structures. The relevant policy bodies at Federal, regional, provincial and local level will be located.
The first research task therefore involves the identification of these actors. This will be done using a classification in the fields of epidemiology-research, prevention-treatment, security and policy. This classification structure will be used throughout the various research phases.
PHASE B: Cost price of the various components of the policy being pursued
Secondly, the project will examine what the cost price is for the various actors in relation to the pursued policy. ‘Cost price’ is understood to refer to funds made available to the actors.
In the process, attention will be paid to the importance of ‘controlling supply’ versus ‘limiting demand’ The cost price of controlling supply includes aspects like estimation of the cost of the criminal system, including police and customs, the public prosecutor’s office, investigating magistrates, law courts and prisons, as well as alternative methods such as mediation in criminal cases and probation. The cost price of limiting demand covers aspects that include the cost price of available low threshold care and treatment facilities, medical treatment for the effects of excessive and/or long-term drug use, treatment of drug-related diseases, as well as substitution and treatment programmes.
PHASE C: Population reached among drug users
Thirdly, the project will investigate how many and what types of drug users are being reached by the services identified. This will provide us with an overall insight into the benefits of the efforts made by these services.
(i) Report on behalf of the working group appointed to study the issue of drugs, Gedr. St., Kamer 1996-97, 1062/1, Conclusies en aanbevelingen, p. 5.
(ii) Policy note of the federal government on the drug issue, Brussels, 19 januari 2001, p. 15-16 (URL: minsoc.fgov.be/cabinet/2001_01_19_federale _beleidsnota_drugs.htm#federalenota).
(iii) European Union action plan to combat drugs 2000-2004, p. 7, 14.
(iv) X, 'Evaluating the Treatment of Drug Abuse in the European Union', EMCDDA, Luxembourg, 1999, 135 p.
(v) For example: AD. ANDERSON, B. BOWLAND, W. CARTWRIGHT and B. BASSIN, Service-Level Costing of Drug Abuse Treatment, Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 1998, Vol.15, n°3, p. 201-211; M. FRENCH and R. MARTIN, The Cost of Drug Abuse Consequences: A Summary of Research Findings, Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment, 1996, Vol. 13, n°6, p. 453-466; D. RICE, S. KELMAN, L. MILLER and S. DUNMEYER, The Economic Costs of Alcohol and Mental Illness, 1985, U.S. Department of Health and Human Agencies. DHHS, N°(ADM)90-1694, 1990.
Drugbeleid in cijfers : een studie naar betrokken actoren, overheidsuitgaven en bereikte doelgroepen = La politique des drogues en chiffres : une étude des acteurs concernés, des dépenses publiques et des populations atteintes
De Ruyver, Brice - Pelc, Isidore - Casselman, Joris ... et al Gent : Academia Press, 2004 (PB6069)
La politique des drogues en chiffres: étude des acteurs concernés, des dépenses publiques et des populations atteintes : résumé
Bruxelles : Politique scientifique fédérale, 2004 (SP1325)
[To download]
Drugbeleid in cijfers: een studie naar betrokken actoren, overheidsuitgaven en bereikte doelgroepen : samenvatting
Brussel : Federaal Wetenschapsbeleid, 2004 (SP1326)
[To download]
Drug policy in figures: a study into the actors involved, public expenditure and target groups reached : summary
Brussels : Federal Science Policy, 2004 (SP1327)
[To download]
