Identifying and Informing Strategies for Disrupting Drug Distribution Networks: An Application of Community Policing to Local Opiate Markets in Pennsylvania

• In Event: Poster Session I

Abstract

Abuse of prescription pain relievers and heroin (opiates) is a critical U.S. public health and criminal justice policy issue. Almost 2 million Americans abuse or are dependent on prescription opioids. Greater availability of both prescription pain relievers and heroin as well as changes in the cost and purity of heroin, which is now increasingly mixed with toxic fentanyl (a synthetic opioid up to 50 times more potent than heroin), have all contributed to these trends. In order to combat this serious issue, understanding local opiate drug markets can help to determine more efficient methods and policies for disrupting distribution in communities.

This poster presents results from a pilot project that examines two research questions: 1. Do residents’ perceptions of the geographic locations of opiate distribution match arrest and intelligence gathering data? And 2. What are the differences in demographic and socioeconomic characteristics and major highway access between neighborhoods with high versus low opiate distribution? To explore these questions, this project uses data fusion of police, public, and focus group data (from community members in opiate access hotspots). We highlight the utility of community policing data from focus groups for examining local opiate drug markets, and propose policy and methodological recommendations.

Authors

• Glenn Sterner, The Pennsylvania State University

• Ashton Verdery, The Pennsylvania State University

• Shannon Monnat, The Pennsylvania State University

• Gary Zajac, Pennsylvania State University

• Peter Forster, The Pennsylvania State University