Citation

Félix S, Portugal P. Int. J. Drug Policy 2016; 39: 121-129.

Affiliation

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.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.drugpo.2016.10.014

PMID

27940068

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.

Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Language: en