Should drugs use be dealt as a crime in the country of your residence?

[CM]

Re: Should drugs use be dealt as a crime in the country of your residence?

@Southie

Illegal drug use and the economic recession–what can we learn from the existing research?Bretteville-Jensen AL.
SourceSIRUS (Norwegian Institute for Alcohol and Drug Research), Post Box 565, Sentrum, 0501 Oslo, Norway. [email protected]

AbstractBACKGROUND:Much research on the use of amphetamine, cocaine and heroin employs individual level data and analyses variations in drug use by factors like personal characteristics, socioeconomic factors, and the social environment. Less attention is given to how these individual responses inter-relate with key macroeconomic variables. From a drug policy perspective however, it is important to also understand the consequences for drug use and drug users of changes in the macroeconomic conditions. As the world is experiencing an economic recession one would like to know whether it will affect the number of drug users and/or consumption frequency and volume amongst established users.
METHODS:There are different channels through which a recession could influence drug consumption; here the main focus is on how an economic downturn may influence drug prices and drug users’ incomes. We briefly refer to relevant economic theory before reviewing the research literature.
RESULTS:A fall in drug prices and income seem likely. Empirical studies confirm drug users’ price responsiveness. Only a few studies have dealt with income elasticity amongst this group.
CONCLUSION:As the price and the income effect may pull in opposite directions, the full effect on drug use is difficult to predict. Still, it seems likely that an economic downturn of the current magnitude could increase the use of drugs.

This study states the full of on drug use of a recession is difficult to predict. It says it seems likely there could be increased use of drugs. This study is really not conclusing anything - not sure how you are makng a bet based on this. Ghost has provided real data.

No Southie. What it states is that due to the price/income relationship the full effect of drug use is difficult to predict. Meaning that drugs can be recreational as well as addictive. I am not sure the if the economists differentiated between addicted users and recreational users. But one thing they would have done is taken the affect of person income and the ability to purchase the drug vs its actual supply. In a recession the demand for drugs would increase. That could cause an increase in price. However those addicted to the drugs would still buy the drug due to their addiction rather than their ability to support their habit based on their income and other financial resources. The variable factors are numerous in this case due to the addictive nature of the product.

Of course I have yet to read the study so I can not say what they looked at. But generally put the full effect is not seen due to the relationship between the price and income. Due to its addictive nature. Addicts will still but the product regardless of their income.

Southie your question was should one legalize drugs. Not only government health policy. Then again you do not point out which drugs should be legalized either.