Sónia Félix1, Pedro Portugal2. 1. Nova School of Business and Economics, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campus de Campolide, 1099-032 Lisbon, Portugal; Banco de Portugal, Portugal. 2. Nova School of Business and Economics, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campus de Campolide, 1099-032 Lisbon, Portugal; Banco de Portugal, Portugal. Electronic address: pportugal@bportugal.pt.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study is an empirical assessment of the impact of the drug decriminalization policy followed by Portugal in July 2001, on the price of illicit drugs. METHODS: The analysis is performed using a difference-in-differences approach and the Synthetic Control Method in order to construct a synthetic control unit from a convex combination of countries. RESULTS: The results suggest that the prices of opiates and cocaine in the post-treatment period did not decrease in the sequence of the policy change. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the drug decriminalization policy seems to have caused no harm through lower illicit drugs prices, which would lead to higher drug usage and dependence.
BACKGROUND: This study is an empirical assessment of the impact of the drug decriminalization policy followed by Portugal in July 2001, on the price of illicit drugs. METHODS: The analysis is performed using a difference-in-differences approach and the Synthetic Control Method in order to construct a synthetic control unit from a convex combination of countries. RESULTS: The results suggest that the prices of opiates and cocaine in the post-treatment period did not decrease in the sequence of the policy change. CONCLUSION: We conclude that the drug decriminalization policy seems to have caused no harm through lower illicit drugs prices, which would lead to higher drug usage and dependence.
Authors: John Strang; Nora D Volkow; Louisa Degenhardt; Matthew Hickman; Kimberly Johnson; George F Koob; Brandon D L Marshall; Mark Tyndall; Sharon L Walsh Journal: Nat Rev Dis Primers Date: 2020-01-09 Impact factor: 52.329
Authors: Adrian A Deen; Hugh Claridge; Richard D Treble; Hilary J Hamnett; Caroline S Copeland Journal: J Psychopharmacol Date: 2021-06-29 Impact factor: 4.153