title: The analysis of policy: understanding the process of policy development.
abstract: A key question in addiction studies is why do governments not readily adopt policies that research shows to be effective in reducing harm? In this paper, it is argued that policy development can best be understood as a political activity, which is not necessarily scientific. A descriptive model of policy analysis is illustrated by case examples from alcohol and tobacco policy arenas. By understanding policy development as a process, it is suggested that policy advocates can match their strategies to the stages of the process, and thus raise the probability that the advocated policy will be adopted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Studies, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, Australia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ryder
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D011057:Politics; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D012907:Smoking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014481:United States; D014904:Western Australia
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs