Crystal Clear? The Relationship Between Methamphetamine Use and Sexually Transmitted Infections
Summary Public health officials have cited methamphetamine control as a tool with which to decrease HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, based on previous research that finds a strong positive correlation between methamphetamine use and risky sexual behavior. However, the observed correlat...
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Published in | Health economics Vol. 25; no. 3; pp. 292 - 313 |
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Main Authors | , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
England
Blackwell Publishing Ltd
01.03.2016
Wiley Periodicals Inc |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Summary
Public health officials have cited methamphetamine control as a tool with which to decrease HIV and other 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. We estimate the effect of methamphetamine use on risky sexual behavior using monthly data on syphilis diagnoses in California and quarterly data on syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia diagnoses across all states. To circumvent possible endogeneity, we use a large exogenous supply shock in the US methamphetamine market that occurred in May 1995 and a later shock stemming from the Methamphetamine Control Act, which went into effect in October 1997. While the supply shocks had large negative effects on methamphetamine use, we find no evidence that they decreased syphilis, gonorrhea, or chlamydia rates. Our results have broad implications for public policies designed to decrease sexually transmitted infection rates. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. |
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Bibliography: | Supporting info item ark:/67375/WNG-QN2T1HPC-B ArticleID:HEC3140 istex:B0E0EF3623CC0C22D03B499F6E0D41FDF8C3C57D ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 1057-9230 1099-1050 |
DOI: | 10.1002/hec.3140 |