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E. RESEARCH: Inquiry into the extent and nature of alcohol and other drug problems and the effectiveness of solutions.
1. Challenge: Scientifically based epidemiological surveys of the extent of alcohol and other drug problems are lacking. Those that have been conducted too often have reviewed only the manifestations of those problems in individuals rather than the manner in which they affect families, institutions, neighborhoods, communities, and the environment. The studies of individuals with alcohol and other drug problems have almost exclusively used male subjects.
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Goals/Recommendations: |
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a. |
Conduct an epidemiological survey of the extent of alcohol and other drug problems in San Mateo County, using telephonic random-digit-dialing household survey techniques combined with a sample of confirmatory face-to-face interviews. (H, SS; Long-Term)
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b. |
Oversample in areas where communities are notably embattled, where services are not available, and where there are high concentrations of multicultural groups, such as East Palo Alto, Daly City, Redwood City, and Coastside. (H, SS; Long-Term)
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c. |
Include in the research design collection of data on the availability of alcohol and other drugs in the community, correlating the data, where possible, with high consequence alcohol and drug problem indicators. (H, SS; Long-Term)
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2. Challenge: Research on alcohol and drug problems has in many cases been funded and conducted by the programs themselves and their funding agents. Often it has concentrated on the process rather than the outcome.
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Goals/Recommendations: |
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a. |
Encourage the federal and state Governments to obtain independent longitudinal outcome studies on different modalities of service. (H, SS, State; Short-Term)
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b. |
Use the results of these studies to make funding decisions, directing resources to the areas of success rather than to the areas of failure. (H, SS; Long-Term)
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3. Challenge: Research into programmatic needs has seldom focused on multicultural issues or recognized the diversity of communities.
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Goals/Recommendations: |
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a. |
Use a community assessment approach, recognizing the unique cultural characteristics of subjects of the research effort. (H, SS; Long-Term)
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b. |
Use culturally aware researchers and workers to interpret data. (H, SS; Long-Term)
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