Extent and contributing factors of drug expenditure of injectors in Glasgow: multi-site city-wide cross-sectional study

Sharon J. Hutchinson*, Shela M. Gore, Avril Taylor, David J. Goldberg, Martin Frischer

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Recent concern about drug use has focused attention on the illegal income generated by users.
Aims: To investigate factors associated with drugs expenditure and to estimate the cost of illegal acquisitions used to pay for drugs. Method: We collected self-report data from 954 current injectors, interviewed at multiple street, needle/syringe exchange and drug treatment sites throughout Glasgow. Results: Injectors' mean weekly drug spending was £324. The mean annual illegal drugs spend was estimated to be £11 000 per injector. We provide a central estimate - £194 million per annum - of the retail value of goods acquired illegally by injectors in Glasgow in order to pay for drugs. Higher drug spends were associated with having been imprisoned more often and with those reporting acquisitive crime, drug dealing and prostitution. Treatment with methadone, among individuals who injected in the previous two months, was associated with a 20% reduction in a typical spend on drugs.
Conclusions: Treatment effectiveness needs to be measured both in terms of health benefit and in terms of reduction in drugs expenditure and recidivism.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)166-172
Number of pages7
JournalBritish Journal of Psychiatry
Volume176
Issue numberFEB.
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2000
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Psychiatry and Mental health

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