Efforts to limit the commercial use of data on physician prescribing could have broad implications for regulatory programs that promote drug safety. At issue are a series of laws pursued by state legislators that would restrict access to information on the prescriptions written by individual doctors.

Research is an important aspect to the creation of policy, but policy for education can not be made based on the results of research alone.

We owe it to ourselves to make sure decisions to regulate access to medical care are based on sound science and a fair and transparent process.

The strategies being used by the Drug Enforcement Administration to tackle themisuse ofprescription drugsare ineffective andare preventing the development of new medicines.

The World Health Organization's anti-counterfeit drug task force should broaden its scope to fight the scourge of substandard pharmaceuticals.

Education research should ensure that public decision-making is informed by all the facts, insights, and analyses that the tools of science can provide.

Educators have made great strides in using data, but danger lies ahead for those who misunderstand what data can and cannot achieve.

Educators have made great strides in using data. But danger lies ahead for those who misunderstand what data can and cannot do.