title: Markov chain modeling of initiation and demand: the case of the U.S. cocaine epidemic.
abstract: Everingham and Rydell's Markov chain model of cocaine demand is modified and updated in light of recent data. Key insights continue to hold, e.g., that the proportion of cocaine demand stemming from heavy vs. light users changed dramatically over the 1980s. New insights emerge, e.g., pertaining to the average duration of a career of heavy use (about 12 years) and the negative relationship between levels of heavy use and epidemic "infectivity" or the number of new initiates per current user per year. This illustrates how simple modeling can yield insights directly relevant to managing complex drug control policy questions.
authors.affiliation: Carnegie Mellon University, H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy Management, 5000 Forbes Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. caulkins@andrew.cmu.edu
authors.forename: Jonathan P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Caulkins
authors.forename: Doris A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Behrens
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Knoll
authors.forename: Gernot
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tragler
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zuba
mesh_terms: D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008390:Markov Chains; D015233:Models, Statistical; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
references.citation: Math Biosci. 1999 Jun;159(1):1-20
references.pmid: 10361802