Receiving marijuana and cocaine as gifts and through sharing.

This paper presents estimates of the probability that individuals who use marijuana and cocaine receive some of their drug as a gift or through sharing. The analysis utilizes data from the National Household Survey of Drug Abuse in the United States of America. This research expands upon the observation of field researchers that sharing and gift giving are common distribution mechanisms in drug markets. The likelihood an individual marijuana or cocaine user receives drug gifts or receives drugs through sharing by others depends on age, race, gender, income and the amount they consume. These findings should assist policy makers designing drug abstinence programs and drug rehabilitation administrators trying to prevent relapse.