An Economic Analysis of Income and Expenditures by Heroin-Using Research Volunteers

Abstract

At a Detroit research program from 2004 to 2005, out-of-treatment chronic daily heroin users (N = 100) were interviewed to evaluate relationships between past 30-day income and factors influencing heroin price, expenditures, and consumption. Weekly heroin purchasing frequency was positively related to income and number of suppliers, and negatively related to time cost (min) from primary supplier. Daily heroin consumption was positively related to income and injection heroin use, and negatively related to unit cost of heroin. Implications and limitations are noted. Simulations are underway to assess within-subject changes in drug demand. Supported by NIH/NIDA R01 DA15462 and Joe Young, Sr. Funds (State of Michigan).

Keywords:

• behavioral economics
• heroin
• injection
• opiates
• Detroit

Notes

¹ The journal's style utilizes the category substance abuse as a diagnostic category. Substances are used or misused; living organisms are and can be abused. Editor's note.

² The often used nosology “drugs of abuse” is both unscientific and misleading in that (1) it mystifies and empowers selected active chemicals into a category whose underpinnings are neither theoretically anchored nor evidence-informed and which is based upon “principles of faith” held and transmitted by a range of stakeholders representing a myriad of agendas and goals; (2) a range of psychoactive substances—both naturally grown and those which are produced – have been, historically, and continue to be used and misused for a range of functions which are or are not “normed,” acceptable and/or controlled. Editor's note.