Economic constraint and modes of consumption of addictive goods

Abstract Background To see how economic recession, or, more generally, how increased economic constraint amongst drug users may impact their behaviour regarding the mode of drug consumption. Methods The theoretical framework is the theory of rational addiction – drug users are considered to be rational and well-informed about the way they use drugs and the consequences of using them. Surveys in the specialist literature dealing with the potential changes in the economic context of drugs users, and with the mechanisms of the bioavailability of psychoactive substances are examined in order to highlight one of the strategies drug users can implement to circumvent economic problems – namely a change in the mode of administration. An examination of ethnographic studies and French data are also used to test our assumptions. Results Changes in the mode of drug consumption can be the result of a maximization behaviour. Injection is the most effective way to reach a maximum bioavailability of substances. There is evidence in favour of the hypothesis that in times of economic recession, when the economic resources of drug users can decrease, they may prefer injection to other modes of administration in order to maximize the effect of what they have purchased. Conclusion In times of economic recession, harm reduction policy has to be reinforced as injection behaviour can increase. As a result, economic and social policies should be an integral consideration for health policy issues.