title: The spread of drug use: epidemic models or social interaction?
abstract: This chapter argues that models trying to explain the spread of drug use should not be based on standard epidemiological models developed to describe the spread of infectious diseases. The main weaknesses of the standard model are the lack of attention to micro-foundations and the inappropriateness of several of its assumptions in the context of drug use. An approach based on mechanisms and social interaction is argued to provide a promising alternative to the standard approach. To illustrate this, a model of the spread of drugs based on two mechanisms has been developed (observational learning and social stigma). Lastly, some of the difficulties in testing and deriving policy implications in these models are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Institute for Alcohol and Drug Research (SIRUS), Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: Hans O
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Melberg
mesh_terms: D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D015233:Models, Statistical; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D014481:United States