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Crystal Clear? The Relationship between Methamphetamine Use and Risky Sexual Behavior

Author

Listed:
  • Hugo M. Mialon,

    (Department of Economics, Emory University)

  • Erik Nesson

    (Department of Economics, Ball State University)

  • Michael C. Samuel

    (Surveillance and Epidemiology Section, STD Control Branch, California Department of Public Health)

Abstract

We estimate the effect of methamphetamine use on risky sexual behavior using California data on amphetamine-related hospital admissions and syphilis diagnoses from 1994 to 2000. Public health officials have cited methamphetamine control as a tool with which to decrease sexually transmitted infections, based on previous research that finds a strong positive correlation between methamphetamine use and risky sexual behavior. However, the observed correlation may not be causal, as both methamphetamine use and risky sexual behavior could be driven by a third factor, such as a preference for risky behavior. To circumvent this possible endogeneity, we use a large exogenous supply shock in the U.S. methamphetamine market that occurred in mid-1995 and a later supply shock stemming from the 1996 Methamphetamine Control Act. While we find that the supply shocks had large negative effects on methamphetamine use, we find no evidence that these decreases in methamphetamine use decreased syphilis rates.

Suggested Citation

  • Hugo M. Mialon, & Erik Nesson & Michael C. Samuel, 2013. "Crystal Clear? The Relationship between Methamphetamine Use and Risky Sexual Behavior," Working Papers 201301, Ball State University, Department of Economics, revised Mar 2013.
    • Handle: RePEc:bsu:wpaper:201301
    as

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    File URL: http://econfac.bsu.edu/research/workingpapers/bsuecwp201301Nesson.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Supply Shock; Ephedrine; Methamphetamine; Substance Use; Syphilis; Risky Sexual Behavior; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Sexually Transmitted Infections; STD; STI.;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • K14 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law - - - Criminal Law
    • K42 - Law and Economics - - Legal Procedure, the Legal System, and Illegal Behavior - - - Illegal Behavior and the Enforcement of Law

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