Suchergebnisse

In this paper we endogenize the horizontal structure of illicit drug markets. The key assumption is that the trafficker's probability of detection depends on his/her market share. We show that a stricter law enforcement policy encourages traffickers to permit competitors into the market. Increasing deterrence reduces the quantities supplied by each trafficker but also induces new entry, which cancels out the decrease in individual production at the aggregated level. Equilibrium total quantity & criminal profit are independent of the law enforcement level. Figures, Appendixes, References. [Copyright 2005 Elsevier B.V.]

The primary objective of drug policy should be the minimization of harm which can result from the consumption of certain drugs. The pharmacological and toxicological properties of drugs can cause harm by inducing antisocial behaviors, causing morbidity or death from overdosage, or tissue damage. Other social problems attributed to drugs, such as crimes of property or violence and corruption, are essentially the unintended negative consequences of the policy of prohibition. Prohibition also represents an increasing financial burden to the state because of costs of law enforcement, court proceedings and prisons. Modifications to prohibition policy which may attenuate some of its disadvantages are reviewed. Alternative policies are offered which should offer greater individual and social benefits and fewer negative consequences. It is proposed that the essential problem associated with the policy of prohibition is the nature of the illicit market. The proposal favored is one which can eliminate the illicit market by the employment of "market forces." However, some questions remain to be answered and this paper may encourage some responses.

Describes illegal drug trafficking; argues that present drug rules are bad for both consumer and producer drug countries; policy options. Focus on cocaine and heroin; effects include corruption, violence, and human rights abuses.

Cover -- Title -- Copyright -- Contents -- Introduction -- Chapter One -- Controversies in the war on drugs -- Chapter Two -- A History of Drugs in America -- Chapter Three -- Stopping the Flow of Drugs -- Chapter Four -- drug offenders in prison -- Chapter five -- The legalization debate -- Chapter Six -- Addiction treatment and harm prevention -- Chapter Seven -- Drugs and constitutional Rights -- Glossary -- Further Information -- Bibliography -- Index -- About the Authors -- Back Cover.

The study aims to follow trends in the prevalence of licit and illicit substance use between 1984 and 1998 in the Greek general population. Data are drawn from two nationwide cross-sectional household surveys. Probability samples consisted of 4,297 (1984) and 3,759 (1998) 12- to 64-year-old respondents. Regular tobacco smoking in the total sample increased in women and decreased in men while alcohol consumption remained at similar levels. The use of illicit drugs showed a 3-fold increase since 1984 reaching a lifetime prevalence of 19% in males and 6% in females. In contrast, a significant decrease was noted in the unprescribed use of psychoactive medicines, especially among women. Trends in licit and illicit substance use can be explained by sociocultural and policy changes in Greece in the last 15 years.