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** RAND RESEARCH AND COMMENTARY ON THE ISSUES THAT MATTER MOST
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Aug 22, 2019


What Americans Spend on Illegal Drugs

Americans spent nearly $150 billion on cocaine, heroin, marijuana, and meth in 2016 - rivaling U.S. spending on alcohol. That's according to a new RAND report. This number is driven in large part by the small share of people who use drugs on a daily or near-daily basis. The findings provide valuable insights into the complex markets for these substances. Policymakers can use such data to better understand drug use outcomes and the effects of policies.

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Expert: China Tariffs Aren't Working

The Trump administration announced last week that it would postpone new tariffs on Chinese consumer goods until December. But tariffs remain in place on hundreds of billions of dollars of other commodities. They don't seem to be working, says RAND's Charles Ries. Washington's "go-it-alone approach" is imposing a high and growing cost on the U.S. economy, he says, and it could threaten global prosperity. What's more, there's no quick resolution in sight.

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Back to School: Tips from a Sleep Researcher

Kids across the United States are heading back to school. For students at most middle and high schools, that means waking up for classes that start at 8 a.m. or earlier. This leaves most teens chronically sleep-deprived during the week. That's according to RAND's Wendy Troxel, a sleep expert and a parent of two. Ideally, schools would start later, she says. But until that happens, parents can take steps to ease the transition to earlier wake-up times.

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Possible Paths to Korean Unification

In a nationally televised address last week, South Korean President Moon Jae-in pledged to achieve Korean unification by 2045. Is such a feat possible? A RAND report published last year found that neither South Korea nor North Korea is ready for a successful union. In exploring nine potential paths toward unification, the report concluded that the best path is likely associated with regime collapse in the North. This would require negotiations with the government that replaces Kim Jong-un - a process that would take many years.

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Where Do Educators Turn for Support?

Educators have to make tough decisions about how to support students who are struggling with academic or behavioral issues. Where do they turn for guidance? To find out, RAND researchers asked a nationally representative sample of educators. Both teachers and principals said that colleagues are a go-to resource for addressing student needs. In fact, more than half of teachers said that the first source they consult is another teacher, support staff, or a school or district leader.

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Gen Z and Salafi-Jihadism

Eighteen years after 9/11, a new generation of terrorists may be emerging. Will Salafi-jihadism manifest differently in Generation Z (people born between 1997 and 2012) than in previous cohorts? And how will political upheavals, socioeconomic trends, and rising digital connectivity affect Gen Z's susceptibility to radicalization? A new RAND paper tackles these questions. The authors highlight Gen Z's unprecedented connection to the internet and modern technology. This may foreshadow an adaptive, tech-savvy terrorist threat.

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** TRENDING REPORTS
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Improving the Quality of Mental Health Care for Veterans
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The Synthetic Opioid Surge in the United States
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** RAND IN THE NEWS
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China Threatens Retaliation Over U.S. Arms Sale to Taiwan
Bloomberg
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So Many Guns, So Little Data: An Economist on U.S. Gun Violence
Christian Science Monitor
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ISIS Is Regaining Strength in Iraq and Syria
New York Times
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