Receiving Marijuana and Cocaine as Gifts and Through Sharing

Abstract

This paper presents estimates of the probability that individuals who use marijuana and cocaine receive some of their drug as a gift or through sharing. The analysis utilizes data from the National Household Survey of Drug Abuse in the United States of America. This research expands upon the observation of field researchers that sharing and gift giving are common distribution mechanisms in drug markets. The likelihood an individual marijuana or cocaine user receives drug gifts or receives drugs through sharing by others depends on age, race, gender, income and the amount they consume. These findings should assist policy makers designing drug abstinence programs and drug rehabilitation administrators trying to prevent relapse.

Keywords:

• Illegal drug gifts
• Illegal drug sharing

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jay Hamilton

Jay Hamilton, Ph.D., in Economics, is an Assistant Professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice of the City University of New York. In addition to illegal drug gifts and sharing his research interests include how prohibition/policy affects drug markets and the role of prohibited markets (of all kinds) in consumer based economies.