ipl-logo

Substitution Effect: Theories Of Substance Use

763 Words4 Pages

Substitution effect is a theory originating from behavioral economics that examines how the availability of one good can impact and influence the use of other goods. In regards to substance use, Hursh et al. (2005) suggest that “pharmacological therapies for the treatment of drug abuse can also be conceptualized as alternative commodities that either substitute for illicit drug use (e.g., agonist therapy) or reduce the potency of illicit drugs directly (e.g., narcotic antagonist therapy).”
There is more evidence regarding adults having access to medical and recreational cannabis, and its positive impacts on public safety and health, mostly as a result of substitution effect. Population-level research shows how legal access to cannabis, both medical and recreational, in …show more content…

In addition, suicides have seen a reduction where some sort of cannabis has been legalized (Anderson DM, Rees DI, Sabia JJ, 2014). Even more good news is that auto-related fatalities are lower in these locations with legal cannabis (Santaella-Tenorio J, Mauro C, Wall M., Kim J., Cerdá M., Keyes K., et al., 2014). These numbers are all directly related to declines in alcohol use. Furthermore, epidemiological research shows that the introduction of medical cannabis programs has been associated with reducing the use of opioids and subsequent morbidity and mortality rates in the US. Bachhuber et al reports, “the U.S. States with medical cannabis laws, including Oregon, had almost a 25% lower opioid overdose mortality rate compared to states without medical cannabis laws.” Also, a 2016 study reports that, “the number of Medicare prescriptions for seniors in medical cannabis states dropped for other prescriptions that treat depression, anxiety, nausea, pain, seizures, eating and

Show More
Related
1939 Words | 8 Pages

It has also been shown that marijuana contributed to the decrease in alcohol consumption, traffic fatalities and suicides (Estoup, Moise-Campbell, Varma & Stewart, 2016, p. 1881). Some also suggest that with legalization, there should be regulations which could assist with minimize the effects which may arise with daily use. These suggestions include placing taxes on marijuana products based

Read More
786 Words | 4 Pages

Since marijuana was legalized there have been dramatic results. States that allow the use of marijuana have increased the public’s awareness of the drug’s effects. After an increase in public awarness, many people are setting the drug aside due to long-term effects. If other drugs were made legal in the United States and their long-term and short-term effects were taught, it is very likely that there would be a decrease in their use. People are less inclined to get hooked onto drugs when they realize it could kill them.

Read More
1340 Words | 6 Pages

With the pressure to legalize marijuana rise for government officials, protesters argue that decriminalizing marijuana would help society and benefit the people living in the Unites States. In states that have already legalized marijuana, it has been documented and proven that marijuana usage has been higher than before legalization, even if the consequences were very severe (“Marijuana Decriminalization”). If people are so highly dedicated to continuingcontinue using marijuana, even with their lives and future at stake, what could stop them? Marijuana has been proven to be a “gateway” drug, therefore, if marijuana were to be legalized, eventually other harmful substances could be legalized as well causing many deaths and various forms of

Read More
734 Words | 3 Pages

Back in the early twentieth century, marijuana was mainly used for medical purposes in the US. Now, both it 's recreational and medical use is increasingly being consumed by the population and the tendency is to continue increasing. Much has been said about the use of marijuana as a solution to different health problems, and although not everything that is said is true, it cannot be ignored that marijuana can help in the treatment of some cases of adult patients. CNN’s chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, was opposed to the medicinal use of cannabis. Based on his knowledge as a neurologist, he was convinced that the drug was dangerous and had dismissed its supposed therapeutic benefits.

Read More
1430 Words | 6 Pages

In steady of fighting to stop the inevitable, we should concentrate on regulations for Tennessee drives to keep our community protected. States including Washington, Oregon, and Colorado have already legalized marijuana, and are initiating policies to keep our roads safe from drivers under the influence. Dough Wagner’s report on Professor Mitch Earley’s studies “[concluded] that marijuana use "seems to have fewer negative health effects than legal drugs, like alcohol, caffeine, or tobacco, and kills far fewer people"(2). Marijuana has exhibited significance in the medical field. Along with 1.5 billion economic reasons we should legalize it.

Read More
1201 Words | 5 Pages

The article describes the two main compounds of marijuana, THC and CBD, and the few synthetic varieties available in the United States and Canada. Cavalet proves the different conditions that have evidence for marijuana treatment and the conditions that do not. The purpose of this article is to present the real risks and benefits associated with marijuana. The intended audience for this article is medical personnel or those with knowledge on the

Read More
1039 Words | 5 Pages

Drinking doesn’t just affect one person; it changes the world around them if they make the wrong decision. CDC stated that in 2015 “10,265 people died in alcohol-impaired driving crashes, accounting for nearly one-third (29%) of all traffic-related deaths in the United States.” Alcohol when in comparison to the long-term effects of smoking cannabis, is far worse. Marijuana alters brain development when individuals begin using marijuana at a young age; the drug can impair thinking, memory, and learning functions. A study from New Zealand conducted by researchers at Duke University found that those who

Read More
1178 Words | 5 Pages

Today the demands are changing in different states. In States such as Colorado and Washington, marijuana has been legalized for recreational use. This move raised several questions as far as decriminalization of marijuana is concerned. Besides portraying the US in a bad light, legalization of marijuana for recreation increases the risk of developing mental problems, increases government expenditure on public health, jeopardizes the future of children, and is a gateway to other dangerous drugs. Increased health problems and public health expenditure-

Read More
1250 Words | 5 Pages

Many have argued that deaths related with legal prescription drug use could be significantly reduced if medical marijuana were readily available for use as an alternative drug. According to The Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, it is concluded that symptoms, if not diseases, can be relieved by marijuana. Medical marijuana clinics operate in 20 states and the District of Columbia, and its recreational use is now legal in Colorado and Washington (Petersen,

Read More
1461 Words | 6 Pages

People believe that if marijuana is legalized users will get addicted. Marijuana use disorder become what is known as addiction when “the person cannot stop using the drug even though it interferes with many aspects of his or her life” (“Is Marijuana Addictive”). Although addiction is a problem, out of all the people who use marijuana, only 9% become dependent on it (“Is Marijuana Addictive”). Also, opioids and painkillers are very addictive as well, and they can lead to an overdose resulting in death. The second concern is abuse.

Read More
420 Words | 2 Pages

Sabet later went on to state “We’ve seen lives damaged. We’ve seen deaths directly attributed to marijuana legalization . We’ve seen marijuana slipping through Colorado’s borders. We’ve seen it getting into the hands of young teenagers.” Each of theses statements should be cautionary lessons for other states tempting to loosen marijuana

Read More
1455 Words | 6 Pages

[Therefore] the findings by Livingston do not provide compelling evidence of an individual-level substitution effect between marijuana and opioid use. The response letter suggests that Livingston’s study causes readers to make “overly expansive conclusions from research findings” (AJPH, 2017, e12) due to the theory of ecological fallacy. The response letter neither proves nor disproves the association between the legalization of cannabis in Colorado and the reductions in opioid-related deaths between the specific time frame in Livingston’s study, which further supports the idea of marijuana legalization being a positive impact on society.

Read More
1693 Words | 7 Pages

In the past decade, a number of movements to legalize the use of marijuana has been gaining momentum. According to the 2016 Gallup survey, a record high 60% of Americans say that marijuana should be legalized and this figure marks a 9% increase compared to 2014. Support for legalizing marijuana was 31% in 2000, 50% in 2016 before reaching 60% last year. This shows that despite government efforts to eliminate its use, marijuana is becoming more popular. It is clear that

Read More
984 Words | 4 Pages

One of these ways is the legalization of cannabis. Alcohol and cannabis act as substitutes. Although this has not been fully demonstrated, people are likely to use cannabis instead of alcohol. To the extent that the legality of cannabis causes less alcohol consumption, it is likely to make society safer due to the fact that alcohol leads to violence, causing weakness and many other dangerous behaviours that have been presented by criminals. Similarly, the reduction of crime is about weakening drug cartels, which at this time take their source of income away.

Read More
1548 Words | 7 Pages

According to NIH´s research, substance abuse is unbelievably costly. The total overall cost of drug abuse in the United States exceeds $600 billion annually. This grand sum includes health care expenditures, lost earnings, and costs associated with crime and accidents. The costs of drug abuse are as serious as other chronic conditions; diabetes costs society $137.7 billion annually, and cancer costs $171.6 billion annually. This is an enormous burden that affects all society, those who abuse substances, and those who do not.

Read More

More about Substitution Effect: Theories Of Substance Use

Related Topics

Open Document