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

Drug and Alcohol Dependence
Jon C ColeHarry R Sumnall

Abstract

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...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jul 14, 2010·The International Journal on Drug Policy·Jenny ChalmersCraig Jones
Jul 12, 2011·Drug Testing and Analysis·H R SumnallJ McVeigh
Jun 26, 2013·Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine = Chung I Tsa Chih Ying Wen Pan·Waikwong TangGabor S Ungvari
Jul 12, 2011·The International Journal on Drug Policy·Tibor M BruntWim van den Brink
Sep 19, 2012·Alcohol and Alcoholism : International Journal of the Medical Council on Alcoholism·Dirk W Lachenmeier, Jürgen Rehm
Jul 11, 2020·Journal of Psychopharmacology·Constanza RissoAmir Englund
Jul 3, 2020·Frontiers in Neuroscience·Elizabeth A CrummySusan M Ferguson
Apr 15, 2009·Current Opinion in Psychiatry

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