Leximetric analysis of drug laws and evaluation of outcomes: cross-country analyses approach

The leximetric approach is a quantitative analysis method that can be applied to any law, with the aim of evaluating the policy object of the study.

This is a methoid of comparative law that relies on a systematic quantitative methodology using a suitable scale to convert the law into numbers. It allows intertemporal and international comparison of legal change. It can be used to compare laws and policies adopted in the same Country over the years, as shown in a recent papers (De Marinis & Rossi, 2022), where a complete example of the procedure is provided considering the three 'anti-drug' laws in force in Italy, in the period 1991-2018, providing the corresponding leximetric scores and evaluating the outcomes.

Comparisons on the behaviours of the leximetric scores must be considered to translate into quantitative indicators the different 'written' policies, typically approved and enacted by law.

The protocol to asses the leximetric scores, in the present application,is based on the repressive measures of the drug law in force with respect to drug pushers and to drug users.

The adequacy of the leximetric scores (prior evaluation) can then be evaluated by comparing them with socio-sanitary and economic indicators measuring the consequences of law enforcement (posterior evaluation).

In the present contribution, the approach is applied in several countries during the same period. The comparative analysis is conducted specifically for four Countries: France, Italy, the Netherlads and Portugal. The leximetric approach can be used for more than twenty years.

It is then important to complete the analysis measuring the law impact on important indicators for drug supply, drug use and unintended consequences. This can also be made, for drug use, mainly on key epidemiological indicators developed by EMCDDA and regularly provided by the focal points for many countries.

Some innovative and health output-driven indices can also be used the evaluate the effectiveness of drug laws and policies. Specific space is allocated to the introduction of these new indicators on both substance supply and substance use.

The cross-country comparison provides important insights into the overall evaluation of laws and policies and their costs and possibly can help to improve better laws and policies.

Sevearl interesting results can then be shown by Tables and Graphs.