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Washington University
School of Medicine
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Evaluating the Social Structure of a Local
Heroin Market
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Project Title |
Evaluating the
Social Structure of a Local Heroin Market |
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Funding Source |
National
Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) |
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Project Dates |
5/01/2005 -
2/28/2007 |
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Project Number |
DA019476-01 |
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Project
Coordinator: |
TBA |
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Team |
Principal Investigator-
Lee Hoffer, Ph.D., MPE
Consulting Ethnographers-
Michael Agar, Ph.D.
Stephen Koester, Ph.D.
Research Statistician-
Arbi Ben Abdallah, D.E.S. (ABD)
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Abstract
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
has identified research on illegal drug markets as a major priority area
in PA-04-100. Researching such markets in a real world setting is a
difficult, time consuming and sometimes dangerous undertaking. However,
understanding illegal drug markets involves more than collecting
descriptive information on them. While data on drug markets have been
collected there are currently no ways to experiment with market conditions
through time to delineate outcomes, relationships, or trends. Furthermore,
while research is available on how customers and dealers within local drug
market settings behave and interact, the aggregated outcomes of these
activities are unknown. No research methods have focused on systematically
identifying, elaborating, or testing social structures that underlie these
markets.
Based on an ethnographic study of a heroin dealing network and market in
Denver, Colorado, this project will synthesize the beliefs and behaviors
of heroin dealers and customers with a method that can generate outcomes
of those attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors: computer-based multi-agent
social simulation. By specifying decisions and decision-making processes,
in conjunction with environmental considerations, these computer
simulations will, in effect, transform qualitative findings into
quantitative output. While merging methods of social simulation
programming and ethnography have not been previously attempted, the
technology and raw materials (data) are in place for this sort of synergy
and the potential benefits of combining these methods are considerable.
The specific aims of this experimental project are to:
Research Aims
Construct a computer application that
simulates a local heroin dealing market based on eighteen months of
ethnographic data previously collected by the applicant about this market,
as well as a mid-level heroin dealing organization that operated within
it.
Experiment with the computer application and
manipulate its parameters and components to simulate the market.
Methodology Aims
Rigorously document the simulation modeling
procedure:
a. Note the strengths and weaknesses of using social simulation modeling
as a method for research on drug dealing.
b. Recommend how future research can be designed to facilitate
simulating other drug related behaviors.
Dissemination Aim
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Disseminate simulation results, project
information, and programming notes to encourage and facilitate further
research using social simulation technologies in the study of illegal
drug use behaviors.
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Projects
National Monitoring of Adolescent Prescription Stimulants Study (N-MAPSS)
Prescription Drug Misuse,
Abuse and Dependence
Club Drug Use, Abuse, and Dependence
International Supplement
STD Supplement
Women
Teaching Women - (WTW)
Improving Treatment Services for Substance Abusers with Comorbid Depression
(SAD)
Sister
to Sister - (STS)
Nosology
Over-the-Counter Syringe Purchase in Four Communities
Analyses to Improve Reduction in Crack Use
Each
One Teach One - (EOTO)
Substance Abuse and Risk for AIDS - (SARA)
St.
Louis' Effort to Reduce the Spread of AIDS and IVDUs - (ERSA)
Community Based HIV Prevention Among Females at Risk in Bangalore INDIA
Deconstructing HIV Interventions Among Female Offenders
Enrolling and Retaining Female Offenders in HIV Trials
Collaborative MDMA and Other Club Drugs Study
Evaluating the Social Structure of a Local Heroin Market (NIDA-funded)
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Epidemiology and Prevention Research Group 
