The effects of perceived quality on the behavioural economics of alcohol, amphetamine, cannabis, cocaine, and ecstasy purchases

被引:19
作者
Cole, Jon C. [1 ]
Goudie, Andrew J. [1 ]
Field, Matt [1 ]
Loverseed, Anne-Claire [1 ]
Charlton, Sarah [1 ]
Sumnall, Harry R. [2 ]
机构
[1] Univ Liverpool, Sch Psychol, Liverpool L69 7ZA, Merseyside, England
[2] Liverpool John Moores Univ, Ctr Publ Hlth, Liverpool L3 5UX, Merseyside, England
关键词
behavioural economics; alcohol; amphetamine; cannabis; cocaine; ecstasy; decision making;
D O I
10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2007.11.014
中图分类号
R194 [卫生标准、卫生检查、医药管理];
学科分类号
摘要
Previous research has indicated that non-dependent polydrug users are willing to pay more money to buy good quality drugs as their income increased. This study sought to examine whether altering the perceived quality of controlled drugs would affect drug purchases if the monetary price remained fixed. A random sample of 80 polydrug users were recruited. All participants were administered an anonymous questionnaire consisting of the Drug Abuse Screening Test for Adolescents (DAST-A), the Severity of Dependence Scale for cannabis (SDS), the,Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and questions about their drug use. Participants then completed a simulation of controlled drug purchases where the price of alcohol, amphetamine, cannabis, cocaine, and ecstasy remained the same but their perceived quality changed (i.e. unit price increased as the perceived quality decreased). The demand for alcohol was quality inelastic and alcohol quality had no effects on the purchase of any other controlled drug. Demand for cannabis was quality elastic and alcohol substituted for cannabis as its unit price increased. Demand for cocaine was quality elastic and alcohol, cannabis, and ecstasy substituted for cocaine as its unit price increased. Demand for ecstasy was quality elastic and alcohol and cocaine both substituted for ecstasy as its unit price increased. These results suggest that perceived quality influences the demand for controlled drugs and that monitoring the perceived quality of controlled drugs may provide a warning of potential public health problems in the near future. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
引用
收藏
页码:183 / 190
页数:8
相关论文
共 32 条
[1]  
[Anonymous], 2006, INTERMEDIATE MICROEC
[2]  
Babor T.F., 2001, Primary Care, V2nd
[3]   Toward a behavioral economic understanding of drug dependence: delay discounting processes [J].
Bickel, WK ;
Marsch, LA .
ADDICTION, 2001, 96 (01) :73-86
[4]  
BICKEL WK, 1996, ADV BEHAV E, V3, P69
[5]   Perceived functions predict intensity of use and problems in young polysubstance users [J].
Boys, A ;
Marsden, J .
ADDICTION, 2003, 98 (07) :951-963
[6]  
Carroll ME, 1999, NBER CONF R, P311
[7]   Evolving models of addictive behavior: From neoclassical to behavioral economics [J].
Chaloupka, FJ ;
Emery, S ;
Liang, L .
CHOICE, BEHAVIOURAL ECONOMICS AND ADDICTION, 2003, :71-94
[8]   The content of ecstasy tablets: implications for the study of their long-term effects [J].
Cole, JC ;
Bailey, M ;
Sumnall, HR ;
Wagstaff, GF ;
King, LA .
ADDICTION, 2002, 97 (12) :1531-1536
[9]   Drug use and drug market intersections [J].
Coomber, R .
ADDICTION RESEARCH & THEORY, 2004, 12 (06) :501-505
[10]   Evaluating explanations of the Australian 'heroin shortage' [J].
Degenhardt, L ;
Reuter, P ;
Collins, L ;
Hall, W .
ADDICTION, 2005, 100 (04) :459-469