SHORE & Whariki Research Centre, College of Health, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand.
SHORE & Whariki Research Centre, College of Health, Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand.
Int J Drug Policy. 2018 Nov;61:15-22. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.09.007. Epub 2018 Oct 19.
Small towns in New Zealand have reported high availability of methamphetamine, and conversely a shortage of cannabis. Stakeholders have suggested drug dealers are purposely promoting methamphetamine rather than cannabis.
(1) To compare the availability of methamphetamine and cannabis in different size communities; (2) Identify determinants of the high availability of methamphetamine, including low availability of cannabis.
An online drug survey was promoted via a broadly targeted Facebook™ campaign. Participants were asked if they lived in a "city", "small town" or "rural area", their drug use patterns, and local drug market characteristics, including current availability. A total of 6311 people completed the survey. Logistic regression models were constructed to identify independent predictors of reporting high availability of methamphetamine, cannabis, ecstasy and LSD respectively, with low availability of cannabis included as a predictor in the non-cannabis markets.
Methamphetamine was reported to be more available than cannabis in all regions. Methamphetamine was more available in towns/rural areas than in cities. Significant predictors of high availability of methamphetamine were living in a town/rural area (OR = 1.38), purchasing from a gang member (OR = 1.88), daily methamphetamine use (OR = 2.41), Maori ethnicity (OR = 1.36) and reporting low availability of cannabis (OR = 1.89). Low availability of cannabis was not a predictor of high availability of ecstasy or LSD. Living in a town/rural area was not a predictor of high availability of cannabis, LSD or ecstasy. Purchasing from a gang member was a predictor of high availability of cannabis (OR = 1.80) and LSD (OR = 4.61).
Further research is required to identify what causal relationships, if any, there are between the statistical associations of high methamphetamine availability, living in a small town, purchasing from a gang, and low cannabis availability. It may be the case that small towns offer an environment where a gang can control the local drugs market.
新西兰的一些小城镇报告称，冰毒供应充足，而大麻则供应短缺。利益相关者表示，毒贩故意推销冰毒，而不是大麻。
（1）比较不同规模社区中冰毒和大麻的供应情况；（2）确定冰毒供应充足的决定因素，包括大麻供应不足的情况。
通过广泛针对的 Facebook 广告活动，在线推广毒品调查。参与者被问及他们是否居住在“城市”、“小镇”或“农村地区”，他们的吸毒模式以及当地毒品市场特征，包括当前的供应情况。共有 6311 人完成了调查。构建逻辑回归模型，以确定报告冰毒、大麻、摇头丸和 LSD 供应充足的独立预测因素，其中包括大麻供应不足作为非大麻市场的预测因素。
冰毒在所有地区的供应都多于大麻。城镇/农村地区的冰毒供应多于城市。冰毒供应充足的显著预测因素包括居住在城镇/农村地区（OR=1.38）、从帮派成员处购买（OR=1.88）、每天使用冰毒（OR=2.41）、毛利人种族（OR=1.36）和报告大麻供应不足（OR=1.89）。大麻供应不足不是摇头丸或 LSD 供应充足的预测因素。居住在城镇/农村地区不是大麻、摇头丸或 LSD 供应充足的预测因素。从帮派成员处购买是大麻（OR=1.80）和 LSD（OR=4.61）供应充足的预测因素。
需要进一步研究以确定冰毒供应充足、居住在小镇、从帮派购买以及大麻供应不足之间是否存在任何因果关系。可能的情况是，小城镇提供了一个环境，帮派可以控制当地的毒品市场。
