The analysis of policy: understanding the process of policy development.

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.