Differences in the Validity of Self-Reported Drug Use Across Five Factors: Gender,Race, Age,Type of Drug,and Offense Seriousness

This study expands our knowledge about the validity of self-reported drug use by examining how gender, race, age, type of drug, and offense seriousness interact to affect the validity of self-reported drug use. This study also provides a conceptual framework that can be used to examine the validity of self-reported drug use. Differences in the validity of self-reported drug use are explained by examining differences in underreporting and overreporting. Differences in underreporting and overreporting are then further examined while controlling for differences in base rates of drug use. As shown, whether one controls for base rates of use may drastically affect estimates of underreporting and overreporting. By using hierarchical loglinear, logit, and logistic regression models with the Drug Use Forecasting data, we show that Black offenders provide less accurate self-reports than White offenders. Black offenders do so because they are more likely to underreport crack/cocaine use than White offenders. This difference, however, disappears once differences in base rates are controlled. A Black offender who tests positive is not more likely to underreport crack/cocaine use than a White offender who tests positive. Black offenders are also more likely to overreport both marijuana and crack/cocaine use relative to White offenders. Contrary to the first, this difference is not attributable to a difference in base rates. Methodological and substantive implications of this distinction are discussed. No differences across gender, age, or offense seriousness were found.

Injury Patterns Sustained in Fatal Motor Vehicle Collisions with Driver's Third‐Generation Airbag Deployment

The Office of the Chief Coroner for Ontario database for 2011–2012 was used to compare fatal injury patterns in drivers whose third‐generation airbags deployed compared to first‐ and second‐generation airbag deployments and airbag nondeployments with and without seatbelt use. There were 110 frontal and offset frontal crashes analyzed. The small sample size meant that the odds of craniocerebral, cervical spinal, thoracic, and abdominal injuries were not statistically different for airbag generation, deployment status, and seatbelt use; however, the risk of fatal thoracic injuries in third‐ and second‐generation cases was increased. Seatbelt usage in third‐ and second‐generation deployment cases reduced the risk of all injuries except abdominal trauma. High severity impacts and occupant compartment intrusion were frequently observed. The analyses in this retrospective study were challenged by data that were not collated in a standardized way and were limited in details about scene, vehicle, and driver variables.     

Illicit payments for illicit goods: noncontact drug distribution on Russian online drug marketplaces

The distribution or consumption of traditional drugs has become the subject of stringent penalties throughout most of the world and synthetic designer drugs have become the alternative. Novel psychoactive substances, also called ‘legal highs’, are highly varied in terms of chemical composition. These substances are advertised and distributed as an alternative to traditional drugs on the Internet, making identification of new substances and enforcement difficult. For this article, we downloaded and analysed 28 Russian-language online drug marketplaces which distribute traditional and novel psychoactive substances. All marketplaces used a noncontact drug dealing method where the seller and the buyer communicate through the Internet to arrange for payment and delivery of drugs without meeting face-to-face. Geographic information, price, amount, substance type and payment method data were extracted. Findings indicate such marketplaces are able to operate due to the ability of their clients to pay anonymously with the virtual currencies – Qiwi and Bitcoin.     

Excessive Uniformity in Federal Drug Sentencing

The ideal of fair and proportionate punishment was a major impetus for federal sentencing reform. Observers of the current federal drug sentencing regime contend that the sentencing guidelines and mandatory minimums lead to the problem of “excessive uniformity” in which offenders of widely differing culpability receive similar sentences due to the dominance of drug quantity as a sentencing factor. This study investigates this phenomenon using the 1997 Survey of Inmates in Federal Correctional Facilities. Controlling for relevant offense, offender, and case processing variables, the analysis finds that the quantity-driven sentencing fails to account for important differences in offender culpability—resulting in excessively uniform sentences for offenders with highly dissimilar roles in the offense. The main policy implication of this research is that the central, organizing role of drug quantity in federal drug sentencing needs to be rethought. Indeed, effectively dealing with the problem of excessive uniformity will likely require the wholesale restructuring of how federal sentences for drug offenders are determined.

贩卖毒品罪的本质

贩卖毒品罪的本质可以从形式层面揭示,也可以从实质层面剖析。我国刑法一般从形式上界定,而德日刑法则通常从实质上分析。关于贩卖毒品罪的本质,德国理论界有两种主要的学说。一是以法益一元论为基础的贩卖毒品罪本质观,二是以法益二元论为基础的贩卖毒品罪本质观。前者侧重于刑罚权的限制和人权的尊重,后者则重视社会秩序的维持。借鉴国外理论,我国刑法中贩卖毒品罪的本质应该界定为对于不特定多数人生命、健康的危险,即对人民健康的侵害,该危险是一种抽象危险。     

贵阳地区208起重特大毒品案件综析

根据对贵阳地区208起重特大毒品案件综析,运毒的方法有空运、火车运毒、汽车运毒。当前,必须高度重视毒品犯罪中的农民、劳改释放和解教人员等。在打击毒品犯罪中应集中统一行动和片区行动相结合,专业队伍和其它警种相结合,专案侦查与基础工作相结合。     

药品说明缺陷的法律分析

文章根据产品责任法理论阐述了药品缺陷的含义以及我国对药品说明的有关规定;并根据药品的特殊性,深入分析了药品说明缺陷的判断因素,以及认定药品说明缺陷的注意问题,有助于药品生产者、经营者、医师、药师等在产品和医疗服务中规范行事。提出在司法实践中,要确认生产者、销售者或医师是否存在说明缺陷,应对药品的说明对象、说明方式以及说明时间、说明的充分性以及对明显或众所周知的危险进行警告等方面进行综合考虑评估。     

论禁毒情报调研的特点及方式

禁毒情报工作具有对象特定、内容复杂、范围广泛、任务长期等特点,所获情报具有本质性、宏观性、专题性和预测性等特点;一般来说,禁毒情报调研的方式主要有典型调查法、普遍调查法和抽样调查法等     

Oral fluid drug tests: Effects of adulterants and foodstuffs

An on-site oral fluid drug screen, Oratect^®, was used to investigate the effects of adulterants and foodstuffs on oral fluid test results. Common foods, beverages, food ingredients, cosmetics and hygienic products were demonstrated not to cause false positive results when tested 30 min after their consumption. Evaluations of two commercial oral fluid adulterants, “Clear Choice^® Fizzy Flush™” and “Test’in™ Spit n Kleen Mouthwash” suggest their mechanism of action is the clearing of residual drugs of abuse compounds through rinsing of the oral cavity. They do not directly destroy the drug compounds or change the pH of the oral fluid. It is also suggested that a common mouthwash would perform similar action.     

关于云南禁毒对策的思考

云南省特殊的地缘环境 ,决定了其成为中国禁毒斗争的最前沿和主战场。云南禁毒工作成效的好与坏 ,将直接关系到全省乃至全国的社会稳定、经济发展、民族团结 ,周边国家的睦邻友好及国民的生命健康 ;关系到中国禁绝毒品总目标的实现。面对严峻的毒品形势 ,要在禁毒方针的指导下 ,切实树立“大禁毒”观 ,充分动员和发挥全社会的整体力量 ,打一场现代禁毒的人民战争 ,直至彻底根除毒品