A Behavioral Economic Approach to Assessing Demand for Marijuana
A Behavioral Economic Approach to Assessing Demand for Marijuana
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DOI：
10.1037/a0035318
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发表时间：
2014-06-01
影响因子：
2.3
通讯作者：
Epstein, Leonard H.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Collins, R. Lorraine;Vincent, Paula C.;Epstein, Leonard H.
在美国，大麻是最常用的非法药物。其流行率正在上升，特别是在年轻人中。物质的相对强化功效的行为经济学指标已被用于审查合法的上诉（例如，酒精）和非法（例如，海洛因）毒品。本研究是第一次使用实验，模拟购买任务，以检查大麻的RRE。年轻成年人（M年龄= 21.64岁）娱乐性大麻使用者（N = 59）完成了一项计算机化的大麻购买任务，该任务旨在生成需求曲线和相关的RRE指数（例如，需求强度--最低价格购买; O-max-max。花在大麻上; P-max-大麻支出最大的价格）。参与者“购买”了16种价格不断上涨的高档大麻，价格从0美元/免费到160美元/联合不等。他们还提供了2周的实时，生态瞬时评估报告，对他们的大麻使用。采购任务生成了多个RRE指数。与对其他物质的研究一致，对大麻的需求在较低价格时没有弹性，但在较高价格时变得有弹性，这表明大麻价格的上涨可能会减少其使用。在回归分析中，需求强度、O-max、P-max和弹性分别解释了实时大麻使用的显著差异。这些结果提供了支持的有效性，一个模拟的大麻购买任务，以检查大麻的强化功效。这项研究强调了将行为经济学框架应用于成年人大麻使用的价值，并对预防，治疗和规范大麻使用的政策产生了影响。
In the United States, marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug. Its prevalence is growing, particularly among young adults. Behavioral economic indices of the relative reinforcing efficacy (RRE) of substances have been used to examine the appeal of licit (e.g., alcohol) and illicit (e.g., heroin) drugs. The present study is the first to use an experimental, simulated purchasing task to examine the RRE of marijuana. Young-adult (M age = 21.64 years) recreational marijuana users (N = 59) completed a computerized marijuana purchasing task designed to generate demand curves and the related RRE indices (e.g., intensity of demand-purchases at lowest price; O-max-max. spent on marijuana; P-max-price at which marijuana expenditure is max). Participants "purchased" high-grade marijuana across 16 escalating prices that ranged from $0/free to $160/joint. They also provided 2 weeks of real-time, ecological momentary assessment reports on their marijuana use. The purchasing task generated multiple RRE indices. Consistent with research on other substances, the demand for marijuana was inelastic at lower prices but became elastic at higher prices, suggesting that increases in the price of marijuana could lessen its use. In regression analyses, the intensity of demand, O-max, and P-max, and elasticity each accounted for significant variance in real-time marijuana use. These results provide support for the validity of a simulated marijuana purchasing task to examine marijuana's reinforcing efficacy. This study highlights the value of applying a behavioral economic framework to young-adult marijuana use and has implications for prevention, treatment, and policies to regulate marijuana use.