NCJ Number
145980
Journal
Police Journal Volume: 66 Issue: 4 Dated: (October-December 1993) Pages: 353-360
Date Published
1993
Length
8 pages
Annotation
The author examines the basic approaches to antidrug strategies and quantifies factors according to economic theories of supply and demand.
Abstract
Attacking the demand rather than the supply side of the market would constitute a basis for a more effective policy, the author suggests. Such a strategy would entail a shift of resources from eradicating producers to discouraging users through education, and, perhaps, coercion. In this article, the author is mainly concerned with hard drugs such as heroin, and uses price/volume diagrams to substantiate his points. In terms of economic incentives, supply side attacks can be seen to drive drug prices--and producers' profits-- up. It is assumed that high prices would discourage consumers; however, price has little to do with demand or addiction. With inflated profits, drug producers are able, to an encouraging degree, to corrupt the efforts against them, thus improving their chances for success and reducing the likelihood of and the penalties for getting caught. Demand side attacks, on the other hand, would drive prices down. Again, price has little to do with demand or addiction; consumption may not drop, but it would not necessarily rise, and drug habit-supporting crime would be less compelling. Moreover, producers' profits would be reduced. 8 figures