Impact Evaluation of Police Control Policies on Drug Markets

Police control the drug market through increasing the arrests and seizures of drugs. This strategy would be effective if drug dealers increase the price of drugs as a response and addicts reduce using drugs. Therefore, Police implement different programs to increase the price and seizure of drugs and decrease the availability of drugs. So, the main question of this research is whether police interventions lead to an increase in price and seizure, a decrease in the availability of drugs and ultimately a reduction in drug use. Another question of this research is to what extent these programs could be effective. In this study, two methods are used: in depth interview with 27 drug dealers and 41 drug users in drug markets; and discourse analyses of formal officials. The findings suggest that police interventions in drug markets lead to a decrease rather than an increase in drugs price, in long term. Furthermore, multidrug use and use of high-risk drugs will increase as a consequence of police controls.