Lecture 2: The demand and supply of illicit drugs

Question 1

Name a few Drug users (stereotype)

Answer 1

Male
Middle-aged
Addicted
Unemployed
Commits crimes
Violent
Heroin/crack users

Question 2

What were the most commonly used drugs in the last year according to the Global Drug Survey (GDS) 2017,

Answer 2

The most commonly used drugs in the last year were alcohol, cannabis, and MDMA in that order.

Question 3

What does “illicit” mean in the context of drugs?

Not in Lecture Slides just good to understand

Answer 3

Illicit drugs are substances that are illegal to possess, use, or distribute under law. Examples include cannabis, cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine.

Question 4

Which 2 European country had the highest prevalence of cannabis use in the last year

Answer 4

France and Spain highest %

Question 5

With what drug do graphs show the relationship between the type of drug and the likelihood of individuals admitting to its use when testing positive?

Answer 5

that individuals who test positive for marijuana are more likely to admit to its use

Question 6

How does drug use prevalence differ between males and females in the UK across different time periods?

Answer 6

Males report higher drug use than females across all time periods (lifetime, last year, last month)

Question 7

Which drug was reported as the most commonly used by 16 to 59 year olds in the UK according to the 2016/17 survey,

Answer 7

Cannabis was the most commonly used drug among 16 to 59 year olds in the UK

Question 8

Why might heroin not be included in typical drug use surveys like the 2016/17 UK survey?

Answer 8

Heroin users are often challenging to include in standard surveys because they may be highly transient, less likely to engage in surveys, and harder to reach due to their social and physical circumstances

Question 9

What does EMCDDA mean

Answer 9

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction

Question 10

What is the EMCDDA’s definition of “problem drug use”?

Answer 10

Injecting drug use or long duration / regular use of opioids, cocaine and/or amphetamine

Question 11

How is the figure for problem drug use prevalence estimated according to the EMCDDA?

Answer 11

The figure is not estimated using surveys but through statistical methods based on official data.

Question 12

What does the graph indicate about the frequency of use for cannabis, powder cocaine, and ecstasy among adults aged 16 to 59 who took these drugs in the last year?
Which is the most frequent out of the 3

Answer 12

frequent use is most common for cannabis users

Question 13

Why is Ecstasy considered low?

Answer 13

Not considered frequent consumption on the daily or weekly as associated with festivals and parties - not everyday use

Question 14

What does the Pareto Rule suggest about drug consumption patterns?

Answer 14

roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes

e.g 80% of a company’s profits come from 20% of its customers

suggests that a small portion of users typically accounts for a large portion of overall drug consumption.

Where a minority of heavy users consume the majority of the supply.

Question 15

Where do people most commonly obtain NPS or nitrous oxide and other drugs?

Answer 15

the most common sources are friends, neighbors, or colleagues

Question 16

Which age groups show the highest rates of drug use?

Answer 16

The age groups 16-19 and 20-24 main users

Question 17

What general trend is observed in drug use among different age groups over time?

Answer 17

There is a general decrease in drug use as age increases

Question 18

Why are problematic drug users typically older than occasional users?

Answer 18

are usually older because it takes time to develop dependence.

Question 19

Why does drug use tend to concentrate in urban geographic areas?

Answer 19

Urban areas often have higher concentrations of drug use due to factors like greater availability, higher population densities, and more diverse social networks that can facilitate drug distribution and acquisition.

Question 20

Do drug users mix drugs ?

Answer 20

Yes - do not consume a single drug, multiple kinds of drugs (with different effect, e.g. heroin and amphetamines)

Question 21

How can buying drugs impact the time management of drug-dependent users?

Answer 21

the process of acquiring drugs can be time-consuming due to the need to secure funds, contact dealers, and complete transactions, which can interfere with daily responsibilities and employment.

Question 22

How does drug dependency affect employment?

Answer 22

Drug dependency can make it difficult to maintain a job due to disruptions in daily functioning, attendance issues, and decreased productivity caused by drug effects or the need to acquire drugs.

Question 23

What is the significance of the maintenance program in what country for heroin users?

Answer 23

In Switzerland, maintenance programs provide controlled access to heroin under medical supervision, helping users maintain normal daily activities,

Question 24

What is the “Gateway Hypothesis” in drug use?

Answer 24

The Gateway Hypothesis suggests that the use of less harmful drugs like cannabis can lead to the use of more harmful drugs like heroin or cocaine.

Question 25

Cannabis Leads to ….

Answer 25

heroin/cocaine

Question 26

Name a few characteristics for Drug user (reality)

Answer 26

Men (but small differences with women in Western countries)
Young
Lives in urban areas
Non-violent
Does not commit crimes
Occasional user
Use multiple drugs

Question 27

Name a few characteristicsDrug traffickers

Answer 27

Cartels
Mr Bigs or King Pins
Predatory
‘Cut’ drugs with dangerous substances
Violent
Pyramidal structure
Heavily structured

Question 28

Where are most cocaine produced?

Answer 28

produced in South America, especially in Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru.

Question 29

Highest for most cocaine produced is …

Answer 29

In Colombia

Question 30

Which country is the largest producer of opium

Opium is the plant in the agriculture product that we need for producing heroin

Answer 30

Afghanistan is the largest producer of opium.

Question 31

Why is the year 2001 and 2022 significant with Global Opium production and cultivation (Heroin)

Answer 31

2001 - Taliban
2022 - Started a second ban against opium
95% reduction stopped everone from producing

Question 32

Where does much of the heroin found in Europe originate?

Answer 32

Much of the heroin in Europe comes from Afghanistan

Question 33

Why might heroin be replaced by synthetic drugs?

Answer 33

Heroin could be replaced by synthetic drugs because they are more powerful and easier to produce, making them a cost-effective alternative for illicit drug markets.

Question 34

What characterizes the level of consumers in the drug market?

How many people are involved in smuggling in the drug market?

Answer 34

The drug market has plenty of consumers

Few people are involved in smuggling, which suggests that this role is limited to a small number of individuals.

Question 35

What is the nature of risk and reward in drug smuggling?

Answer 35

high risk = high reward

Question 36

What is the size and structure of drug-dealing organizations?

Answer 36

Drug-dealing organizations are typically small and highly decentralized, which aids in security and operational flexibility.

Question 37

What are the 3 consequences of a decentralized network structure in drug-dealing organizations?

Answer 37

1) Resilience - Incarcerated traffickers easily replaced
2) Lack of innovation - slow to develop new methods or products
3) Inefficient - Network is secure but inefficient

Question 38

Which illicit drug typically has the highest price per gram

Answer 38

Cocaine is often depicted with the highest price due to like demand and legal risks.

Question 39

How do dealers typically operate in regard to their target market?”

Answer 39

Dealers typically sell to willing buyers rather than actively targeting specific group