Cannabis use and market indicators: A comparison between detainees from Australia and the United States
The present study provides a comparison of patterns of cannabis use and self-reported cannabis market indicators from detainees surveyed in 2010 through the DUMA and ADAM II programs. The data include urinalysis results from respondents in both programs as well as self-reported information about drug market participation.
Key Points:
Cannabis is the most widely produced and commonly used illicit drug in the world
Comparing cannabis use and market indicators across different countries can assist drug law enforcement agencies to respond more effectively to drug-related crime in their areas
Patterns of cannabis use and self-reported cannabis market indicators from detainees surveyed through the Drug Use Monitoring in Australia (DUMA) program and the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring II (ADAM II) Program in the United States were compared, with similar rates of cannabis use being found among offenders in both countries. The age of first use was also similar across both samples
In terms of drug markets, Australian detainees were on average more likely to source their cannabis from a regular dealer and more frequently received cannabis without paying cash than their American counterparts. This suggests a more socially dynamic cannabis market in Australia, where a considerable quantity of cannabis is shared or traded informally between family and friends
Both groups were equally as likely to test positive to cannabis, purchase cannabis with cash on approximately the same number of days in a month and experience roughly the same number of failed cannabis purchases
While both countries have the potential to share information regarding effective policy decisions due to the overall similarities in drug use and cannabis markets, the diversity of individual cities and data collection sites, both within and across the two countries, serves as a timely reminder of the need for the development of local solutions to localised drug markets
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