Structure and Trends of the Croatian Illicit Drug Market from The Perspective of Actors On the Illicit Drug Market

Proceedings of The 4th International Conference on Social Sciences in the 21st Century

Year: 2022

DOI:

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Structure and Trends of the Croatian Illicit Drug Market from The Perspective of Actors On the Illicit Drug Market

Tihana Novak, Anita Jandrić Nišević, Dalibor Doležal

ABSTRACT: 

The illicit drug market reflects the social, economic and political aspects of an environment. The more unstable these characteristics, the more they favor the illicit drug market, subsequently forming various actors, more unstable and temporary structures and more complex trends, on account of which the structure of the illicit drug market is further empowered. Characteristics of the illicit drug market in terms of its organization have been described in literature, but also its lack of organization, where such markets are often called flexible, adaptable, fluid, exhibiting a network structure which is easily broken but even more easily renewed. Research into the structure and trends of the illicit drug market combine numerous and different scientific research methods, often by multidisciplinary teams, which increases the probability of obtaining quality, scope and detailed insight into the market, where a significant role in the methodological approach from previous research is given to qualitative methodologies.
This paper presents characteristics of the illicit drug market in Croatia as explained by convicted actors from that market. Those involved in the research are experienced in participating on the illicit drug market, and who are currently serving prison sentences or are in juvenile detention facilities. The methodology used is qualitative in line with the principles of descriptive phenomenology. Endeavors have been made to explain the gained insights into the way the illicit drug market operates in Croatia and whether such obtained and analyzed information can assist in better quality prevention, as well as treatment of convicted perpetrators of drug offenses.
The results testify to the large number of roles on the illicit drug market, some of which are occasional, temporary or short-term. This means that improving prevention programs requires understanding the motives behind someone entering the illicit drug market, including protection and exposure to victimization and detection, as well as other aspects impacting estimates of risk and gains, i.e., the decision on whether to get involved and participate or not.
The Croatian penal system does not offer dedicated rehabilitation programs for perpetrators of drug-related crimes or secondary drug-related crimes, i.e., for those who are not addicts or perpetrators of violent crimes. This population poses a challenge in estimating the possibility of recidivism, for which their role and position on the drug market at the time of arrest is important, given that research in other European penal systems has uncovered very different roles and positions of this convicted population, as well as various approaches to rehabilitation.
The illicit drug market reflects the social, economic and political aspects of an environment. The more unstable these characteristics, the more they favor the illicit drug market, subsequently forming various actors, more unstable and temporary structures and more complex trends, on account of which the structure of the illicit drug market is further empowered. Characteristics of the illicit drug market in terms of its organization have been described in literature, but also its lack of organization, where such markets are often called flexible, adaptable, fluid, exhibiting a network structure which is easily broken but even more easily renewed. Research into the structure and trends of the illicit drug market combine numerous and different scientific research methods, often by multidisciplinary teams, which increases the probability of obtaining quality, scope and detailed insight into the market, where a significant role in the methodological approach from previous research is given to qualitative methodologies.
This paper presents characteristics of the illicit drug market in Croatia as explained by convicted actors from that market. Those involved in the research are experienced in participating on the illicit drug market, and who are currently serving prison sentences or are in juvenile detention facilities. The methodology used is qualitative in line with the principles of descriptive phenomenology. Endeavors have been made to explain the gained insights into the way the illicit drug market operates in Croatia and whether such obtained and analyzed information can assist in better quality prevention, as well as treatment of convicted perpetrators of drug offenses.
The results testify to the large number of roles on the illicit drug market, some of which are occasional, temporary or short-term. This means that improving prevention programs requires understanding the motives behind someone entering the illicit drug market, including protection and exposure to victimization and detection, as well as other aspects impacting estimates of risk and gains, i.e., the decision on whether to get involved and participate or not.

The Croatian penal system does not offer dedicated rehabilitation programs for perpetrators of drug-related crimes or secondary drug-related crimes, i.e., for those who are not addicts or perpetrators of violent crimes. This population poses a challenge in estimating the possibility of recidivism, for which their role and position on the drug market at the time of arrest is important, given that research in other European penal systems has uncovered very different roles and positions of this convicted population, as well as various approaches to rehabilitation.

keywords: illicit drug market, actors, qualitative methodology.