Policy Currents | The newsletter for policy people
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** May 13, 2025
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Introducing RAND's New Flagship Podcast, Policy Minded
Want to get even smarter about the policy issues that shape the world? Check out RAND's new podcast, Policy Minded. In each episode, we pick the brains of the world's top policy experts, bringing you conversations that go beyond the headlines and insights you can't find anywhere else.
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Americans' Use of Illicit Opioids Is Higher Than Previously Thought
According to a new survey conducted by researchers from RAND and the University of Southern California, 11 percent of American adults say they've used illicit opioids within the past 12 months. And 7.5 percent report using illicitly produced fentanyl during the same period.
These rates are more than 20 times higher than estimates from an annual federal study that asks Americans about their illicit drug use.
Many questions remain about what might be driving the difference between this new study and the federal estimate. But one thing is clear: There is a need for better methods to understand the depths of America's opioid crisis--and whether progress is being made in addressing it.
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How Beijing Uses Coded Speech
The Chinese Communist Party, or CCP, uses a system of coded speech to communicate between leaders and party bureaucrats. These coded messages are filtered through the CCP propaganda system to issue policy directives, with the codes taking the form of slogans, linguistic formulations, and key phrases. In a new report, RAND's Howard Wang analyzes this code system and how it's used by the CCP. Such analysis can provide valuable insights into "what the party tells itself is true," Wang writes.
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Reinvigorating Naval Shipbuilding in America
The Trump administration has called for the reinvigoration of the U.S. shipbuilding industry. According to RAND researchers, "shipbuilding challenges did not develop overnight, and they will not be fixed immediately." However, there are a few key actions that policymakers can take to meet the White House's challenge: examine and learn from past failures, seek an improved shipbuilding workforce, and consider enlisting the help of close allies like Japan and South Korea.
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** RAND Recommends
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- Most clicked last week: how more partnerships between federal law enforcement and Indigenous communities could help boost border security.
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- In 2020, California launched ACEs Aware, a first-in-the-nation initiative to help identify and address the impact of early trauma on people's health. RAND researchers have been evaluating the effectiveness of this program.
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- Understanding the limits of AI "is crucial to understanding how it might shape global affairs in the near future," says RAND Europe's Jacob Parakilas.
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** Events
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The Future of Standardized Assessment
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 (Online)
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How Resilient Is China's Economy?
Wednesday, May 21, 2025 (Online)
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Policy Lab: Protecting Schools, Protecting Students
Thursday, May 22, 2025 (Online)
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Admissions Webinar: Master of National Security Faculty Panel
Thursday, May 29, 2025 (Online)
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** Learn Policy Analysis from RAND Experts
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At the RAND School of Public Policy, you'll gain the skills and knowledge needed to shape a better tomorrow. Full-time and part-time master's degree programs are available at our campuses in Santa Monica, CA, and Arlington, VA.
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