Price and Enforcement Effects on Cocaine and Marijuana Demand

This article estimates equations for past year cocaine and marijuana use among adult and juvenile respondents of the 1990–97 National Household Surveys on Drug Abuse. Unlike most previous studies, we control for the monetary price of marijuana, probabilities of arrest for marijuana and cocaine possession, and state fixed effects. Results indicate that cocaine prices are inversely related to adult cocaine and marijuana demand but are unrelated to juvenile drug demand, marijuana price effects are always statistically insignificant, estimated price effects are inflated when state effects are omitted, and increases in each arrest probability diminish both types of drug use.     

Substance use among adolescent students with consideration of budget constraints

This paper estimates the demand for cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana with consideration of the other goods that might exist in a teenager’s utility function. Youth tend to have small incomes and limited wants, with the result that many students spend the bulk of their income on only a few items such as fast food, clothing, and entertainment. In this paper, we examine the influence of changes in the prices of goods commonly bought by teenagers on the demand for cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana. We estimate own and cross price effects using the prices of the illicit substances and other consumer products including gasoline, clothing, entertainment, and fast food. Income effects are also estimated and show that teens with higher incomes and allowances are more likely to use substances. The implications of higher excise taxes on different products are discussed.     

Good news in NSDUH: New heroin use down

New users of heroin were down in 2017 from the previous year, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) released Sept. 14. The decline is dramatic: from 170,000 new heroin users in 2016, to 81,000 in 2017. But there are concerns about increasing cocaine and methamphetamine use, a continuing increase in widespread use of marijuana, and increased substance use in the “transitional‐age” (18–25‐year‐olds) population and pregnant women.     

Adolescents' beliefs about marijuana use: a comparison of regular users, past users and never/occasional users

A questionnaire investigating adolescents' opinions and experiences regarding marijuana use was administered to 163 adolescents and young adults (96 boys and 67 girls) aged 13 to 20 (mean age = 16.8, s.d. = 1.5). Items referred to marijuana and other substances' dangerousness, representations regarding the positive and negative consequences of marijuana use. Responses were compared according to marijuana use status (classified into never/occasional use, current regular use and past regular use). Results show that adolescents' opinions differ according to their experience with marijuana use. Current regular users evaluate marijuana as less dangerous, but alcohol and heroin as more dangerous in comparison with never/occasional and past users. Current and past users are more likely to define marijuana as a medical drug and a plant used in agriculture, and less likely to define it as an illegal drug. Current and past users evaluate marijuana use as a way to cope with stress, to relax to a greater extent than do never/occasional users do. The latter attribute more negative consequences to marijuana use such as diminished driving ability and school performance and a pathway to hard drugs.     

Evidence for significant polydrug use among ecstasy-using college students

Ecstasy (MDMA) has been added to the spectrum of illicit drugs used by college students. In this study, the authors estimated the prevalence of ecstasy use within a large college student sample and investigated the polydrug-use history of those ecstasy users. They administered an anonymous questionnaire to college students (N = 1,206) in classrooms at a large university in the mid-Atlantic United States. The overall student response rate was 91%. Nine percent of the sample reported lifetime ecstasy use. Because 98% of ecstasy users had used marijuana, the authors compared polydrug use between ecstasy users and individuals who had used marijuana but not ecstasy. Ecstasy users, as compared with these marijuana users, were significantly more likely to have used inhalants (38% vs. 10%), LSD (38% vs. 5%), cocaine (46% vs 2%), and heroin (17% vs 1%) in the past year. Significant polydrug use among college student ecstasy users has important implications for their substance abuse treatment.     

The Effect of Cocaine Prices on Crime

The relationship between cocaine prices and crime has critical implications for U.S. drug policy, but is theoretically indeterminate because cocaine price changes affect crime through changes in both cocaine consumption and expenditures. This paper investigates this relationship in annual data from 1981–95 on 29 large U.S. cities, accounting for simultaneity by using two-stage least squares with measures of wholesale supply factors and retail enforcement intensity as instruments for cocaine prices. Controlling for prices of other drugs, deterrence, socioeconomic factors, and city and year-specific effects, a strong negative relationship exists between cocaine prices and six of seven FBI index crimes.     

DIMINISHED LIFETIME SUBSTANCE USE OVER TIME: AN INQUIRY INTO DIFFERENTIAL UNDERREPORTING

This study investigates underreporting of lifetime marijuanaand cocaine use in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth.Comparing responses provided in 1988 with responses providedin 1984, this study evaluates the prevalence and correlatesof two indicators of underreporting, including use denial anduse reduction. At follow-up in 1988, a high rate of underreportingwas evident for both marijuana and cocaine, with rates of usereduction observed for just under one-third of all 1984 marijuanausers and just over one-third of all 1984 cocaine users. Outrightdenial of use in 1988 was almost twice as prevalent among cocaineusers as it was among marijuana users; nearly 19 percent ofall cocaine users denied use at follow-up, compared with nearly12 percent of all marijuana users. Correlates of under reportingvaried by substance and by measure of underreporting. The mostconsistent correlates of underreporting were interview mode,race/ethnicity, and educational status. Those interviewed bytelephone, minority respondents, and those with lower levelsof education were more likely to underreport. Race/ethnicityef fects were particularly striking in our analyses. Black respondents had at least twice the odds of underreporting comparedwith white/other respondents for every indicator of underreporting.Findings are compared with other recent research on underreportingand are discussed in the context of recent substance use prevalencefindings.     

Comment

In several anonymous questionnaire studies of college students, marijuana use has been reported to affect sexual behavior. In general, these studies show that marijuana smoking enhances sexual pleasure and increases sexual desire. Marijuana use has also been associated with more frequent sexual activity and an increased number of sexual partners. The purpose of this study was to determine the perceived effects of marijuana use on the sexual behavior and sexual practices of a sample of regular marijuana .users. In contrast to other studies, subjects were not drawn exclusively from college student populations and were interviewed rather than given a questionnaire. Results, in general, confirm results of previous studies. Subjects were primarily heterosexual and sexually active. Men were more likely than women to have had multiple sexual partners. Over two thirds reported increased sexual pleasure and satisfaction with marijuana. Increased desire for a familiar sexual partner was reported by about one half. The sensations of touch and taste were particularly enhanced by marijuana. Many felt marijuana was an aphrodisiac. Marijuana use in relation to initiation of sexual activity was also assessed. Although drug use occurred prior to first intercourse for about one third of the men and women, alcohol, not marijuana, was most frequently used in this context. Most had used marijuana as a preparation for intercourse on occasion, and 20% did this on a regular basis. Possible explanations for these effects are briefly discussed.     

Coping with Competitors Coast to Coast

Abstract. Ecstasy (MDMA) has been added to the spectrum of illicit drugs used by college students. In this study, the authors estimated the prevalence of ecstasy use within a large college student sample and investigated the polydrug-use history of those ecstasy users. They administered an anonymous questionnaire to college students (N = 1,206) in classrooms at a large university in the mid-Atlantic United States. The overall student response rate was 91%. Nine percent of the sample reported lifetime ecstasy use. Because 98% of ecstasy users had used marijuana, the authors compared polydrug use between ecstasy users and individuals who had used marijuana but not ecstasy. Ecstasy users, as compared with these marijuana users, were significantly more likely to have used inhalants (38% vs. 10%), LSD (38% vs. 5%), cocaine (46% vs 2%), and heroin (17% vs 1%) in the past year. Significant polydrug use among college student ecstasy users has important implications for their substance abuse treatment.     

AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF OIL PRICE SHOCKS IN THE INTERWAR PERIOD

This paper presents results that indicate that oil price shocks were economically important in explaining movements in industrial production, and, to a lesser degree, movements in wholesale prices in the period between World Wars I and II. The framework for analysis is a vector autoregressive model estimated using monthly data over 1924:2–38:6 that employs a financial intermediation variable, a measure of relative oil prices, and other variables typically found in small macroeconomic models. The impact of oil price shocks is evaluated through computation of variance decompositions and an historical decomposition over the 1929:9–38:6 period.     

Heavy alcohol use compared to alcohol and marijuana use: do college students experience a difference in substance use problems?

This study examines the risk for alcohol and other drug (AOD) problems resulting from alcohol plus marijuana use compared to alcohol-only use. Data are from telephone interviews with 1113 randomly selected college students attending two large urban universities in the southwestern United States. Alcohol and marijuana users (dual users) were more likely to be younger and report a higher mean number of drinks per occasion and experiencing all AOD problems studied compared to alcohol-only users. Multivariate logistic regression analysis findings reveal the relationship between dual-substance use and increased risk for AOD problems remained after controlling for demographics and alcohol use behaviors. Such problems include greater odds of legal problems and riding with or being an intoxicated driver. College students using alcohol and marijuana are at much higher risk for AOD problems than are students who use alcohol only, even when heavy drinking is taken into account.     

Beyond Performance Enhancement: Polypharmacy among Collegiate Users of Steroids

Abstract

The extremely low prevalence of steroid use among college students makes it virtually impossible to conduct analyses on any single college campus. By studying a cohort of 58,625 college students from 78 institutions that administered the Core Alcohol and Drug Survey in 1990 and 1991, a critical mass of 175 users on which it was possible to conduct statistical analyses was identified. Compared with a randomly selected group of nonusers, the steroid users reported consuming dramatically more alcohol and demonstrated higher rates of binge drinking. In addition, a significantly higher percentage of steroid users reported using tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, sedatives, hallucinogens, opiates, inhalants, and designer drugs. A higher percentage of steroid users than nonusers also reported experiencing negative consequences as a result of substance abuse, and a greater percentage of the steroid users reported family histories of abuse of alcohol and other drugs. Implications from the standpoint of student development are discussed.     

Poly Substance Use in Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT) Patients

An archival records study was conducted on an estimated 25% (n = 60) of a randomly selected sample of 232 discharged patients at a methadone maintenance program within the state of Maryland. The researcher selected the files of discharged patients, who left the program for various reasons, within a 1-year period. Of the 60 records studied, methadone patients were using other substances such as opiates, cocaine, benzodiazepines, and marijuana. It was revealed that 53% of the discharged patients were using opiates, 37% of the discharged patients were using cocaine, 37% of the discharged patients were using benzodiazepines, and 25% percent of the discharged patients were smoking marijuana. Although none of the randomly selected discharged patient files showed the use of alcohol, active patients in the clinic are drinking alcoholic beverages regularly and are on daily breathalyzers to monitor the potential for overdose. Of the files reviewed the data were insufficient to report in 3% of the discharge patients’ files.     

Job complexity and employee substance use: the moderating effects of cognitive ability.

This study examines the extent to which individual's general cognitive ability influences relations between the complexity of their jobs and their use of four different substances: cigarettes, alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine. We tested this possibility using 1992 and 1982 data sets from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (Center for Human Resource Research 1993). The 1992 data set included 7,112 individuals and measures of all four substances. The 1982 set included 8,548 individuals and a measure of alcohol use only. Our results showed that for three of the substances (cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana), individuals responded differently to job complexity as a function of their cognitive ability. Specifically, for individuals low in cognitive ability, the more complex their jobs, the greater their use of cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana. On the other hand, for those with high cognitive ability, the more complex their jobs, the lower their use of these substances. Results also showed that cognitive ability had no significant impact on the association between job complexity and cocaine use. In sum, our findings suggest that providing employees with jobs that are compatible with their general cognitive ability may result in lower levels of licit and illicit substance use.     

Early drug use and quits and discharges among adolescent males

This paper examines the effects of alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine use on labor market stability. Unlike previous work, this study uses more reliable measures of labor supply-quits and discharges-as dependent variables. This study has two objectives: (a) determine whether early drug usage causes or is related to labor market instability and (b) whether it is time-intensive or goods-intensive. Significant drug coefficients reveal: adolescent males who had early usage of all three substances experience more quits and discharges in the job market implying that drug activity causes labor market instability. On the other hand, usage of alcohol only, implies lower number of quits and discharges from work. Use of alcohol and marijuana only is shown to be time-intensive. The data set from the NLSY male cohort are used.     

Social Support Among Late Adolescent Users of Alcohol and Other Drugs

This study examined the impact of social support on the use of alcohol and other drugs among late adolescents. Additionally, the study analyzed the interactional effects of social support and the other independent variables: gender, age, and race. The findings of the study suggest that social support does influence the use of alchol and other drugs. However, the direction of influence varies with alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine and with various subgroups.     

Risk behaviors and perceptions of AIDS among street injection drug users

Standardized survey interviews (n = 325) and guided in-depth interviews (n = 22) were conducted with injection drug users (IDUs) in Long Beach, California, to document drug usage and injection patterns, sexual practices, perceived risk of HIV infection, sources of health information, and knowledge and attitudes about AIDS. Most IDUs reported sharing needles (87.9%), and a large minority reported regular sterilization of needles/syringes (40.3%). Lower rates of needle sharing were reported among cocaine users than among heroin and speedball users. HIV seroprevalence was 5.7 percent (11/194). Sexually active female (60.7%) and male (20.5%) IDUs reported exchanging sex for money or drugs. Overall, 48.3 percent of IDUs reported having made changes in their injection practices and one-third reported modifying their sexual behavior in order to avoid HIV infection. Differences in drug use, sexual practices, and drug treatment history were found with regard to gender, ethnicity, age, and type of drug injected. Implications of findings for the development of AIDS risk-reduction programs are presented.     

Examining links between cocaine use and street-based sex work in New South Wales, Australia

We examined potential links between cocaine use and street-based sex work in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, following reports of increased cocaine use among injection drug users (IDU). Police data on prostitution and possession/use of cocaine was analysed using time series analysis. Interviews with key informants and IDU were also conducted, and data on cocaine use from ongoing monitoring systems targeted at IDU were analysed. There was a clear increase in cocaine use among IDU which occurred in 2001. This occurred at the same time as an increase in prostitution offenses. Qualitative data suggested that a greater number of primary heroin users were engaging in street-based sex work, which was driven in part by the increases in cocaine use among this group. Subsequent reductions in cocaine availability led to decreased cocaine use and possession offenses, along with reductions in prostitution offenses.     

Alcohol control and foster care

Parental alcohol consumption is often associated with an increased likelihood of child abuse. As consumption is related to price, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the propensity for increases in the full price of alcohol to influence entry rates and the length of time spent in foster care. Using alcoholic beverage prices and a measure of availability in combination with data on foster care cases, we find that higher alcohol prices are not effective in reducing foster care entry rates; however, once in foster care, the duration of stay may be shortened by higher prices and reduced availability.