Arizona Profile 1997

Drug Strategies

Introduction

This report is designed to inform the people of Arizona about the dimensions of the problems caused by alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs, and about public and private initiatives to reduce these problems in the state. The intent is not to evaluate state efforts, but to highlight positive developments and to identify areas to be strengthened. The report focuses on:

the use and abuse of alcohol, tobacco and illegal drugs;
drug and alcohol-related crime;
impact on health;
costs of substance abuse; and
Arizona's response to these problems.

The Arizona Profile is one in a series of state profiles prepared by Drug Strategies, a non-profit research institute in Washington, D.C., dedicated to promoting more effective approaches to the nation's drug problems. Drug Strategies has also produced profiles of California, Massachusetts and Ohio. This project is supported by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

In preparing this report, Drug Strategies worked with the Governor's Division of Drug Policy, the Arizona Department of Health Services, the Drug and Gang Policy Council and Prevention Resource Center, and the Arizona Attorney General's Office. The Arizona Departments of Correction, Education, Transportation, Revenue and Economic Security were also consulted, as were experts in prevention, education, treatment, law enforcement and criminal justice across the state. A distinguished Advisory Panel guided the project. In addition, interviews with federal and state program officials, representatives from treatment and prevention programs, and community leaders helped provide a comprehensive picture of public and private initiatives. While we are grateful for the insight and wisdom of those who contributed, Drug Strategies takes sole responsibility for the contents of this report.

We will distribute this profile broadly in Arizona to legislators, researchers, business leaders, private organizations, government agencies, community groups and the media. We hope that it will increase public understanding of substance abuse problems in the state and also generate political and financial support for more effective policies and programs.

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