Citation

Mazerolle L, McGuffog I, Ferris J, Chamlin MB. Addiction 2016; 112(3): 468-474.

Affiliation

Department of Criminal Justice, Texas State University, San Marcos, Hines Academic Center; 601 University Drive, San Marcos, Texas.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/add.13648

PMID

27741563

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Electronic Tracking Systems (ETS) are used extensively in pharmacies across the US and Australia to control suspicious sales of pseudoephedrine. This study measures the impact of one ETS - Project STOP - on the capacity of police to reduce production, supply and possession of methamphetamine.

DESIGN: Using official police data of incidents of production, supply and possession from January 1996 to December 2011 (N = 192 data points/months over 16 years), we used a quasi-experimental, time series approach. SETTING: The State of Queensland, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: No individual participants are included in the study. The unit of analysis is reported police incidents. MEASUREMENTS: The study examines the impact of the ETS on production (N = 5,938 incidents), drug supply and trafficking (N = 20,094 incidents) and drug possession or use (N = 118,926) of methamphetamine.

FINDINGS: Introduction of the ETS in November 2005 was associated with an insignificant decrease (p = 0.15) in the production of methamphetamine. The intervention was associated with a statistically significant increase in supply incidents (p = 0.0001). There was no statistically significant effect on the incidence of possession (p = 0.59).

CONCLUSIONS: Electronic tracking systems can reduce the capacity of people to produce methamphetamine domestically but seem unlikely to affect other aspects of the methamphetamine problem such as possession, distribution, and importation.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Language: en