Should the U.S. Direct More Law Enforcement Effort at XTC?
Abstract
The question has arisen as to whether this is a good time to direct additional law enforcement effort at XTC. Or, might other interventions, such as treatment and prevention, be better alternatives? One constructive way to approach this question is by stepping back and asking, for what types of drugs and at what point in an epidemic of drug use is law enforcement likely to be the preferred intervention? Then one can ask whether XTC is likely to fit that description. Levels and patterns of drug-use rise and fall over time in modest ways as do all sorts of phenomena, but drug use patterns can also change explosively. In particular, drug "epidemics" can begin with low rates of use being replaced by exponential growth up to some plateau, from which drug use gradually declines to some endemic level that may or may not be much greater than the original level (Musto, 1999). In such a dynamic situation, it may make sense for the mix of policy interventions to vary over time as well. Such adaptive or dynamic policies are not uncommon in other spheres. For example, the Federal Reserve adjusts interest rates in response to its perception of where the economy is in the business cycle.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA381738
Entities
People
- Jonathan P. Caulkins
Organizations
- RAND Corporation