Exploring the Influence of Drug Trafficking Gangs on Overdose Deaths in the Largest Narcotics Market in the Eastern United States

Abstract

Research has found that drug markets tend to cluster in space, potentially because of the profit that can be made when customers are drawn to areas with multiple suppliers. But few studies have examined how these clusters of drug markets—which have been termed “agglomeration economies”—may be related to accidental overdose deaths, and in particular, the spatial distribution of mortality from overdose. Focusing on a large neighborhood in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, known for its open-air drug markets, this study examines whether deaths from accidental drug overdose are clustered around street corners controlled by drug trafficking gangs. This study incorporates theoretically-informed social and physical environmental characteristics of street corner units into the models predicting overdose deaths. Given a number of environmental changes relevant to drug use locations was taking place in the focal neighborhood during the analysis period, the authors first employ a novel concentration metric—the Rare Event Concentration Coefficient—to assess clustering of overdose deaths annually between 2015 and 2019. The results of these models reveal that overdose deaths became less clustered over time and that the density was considerably lower after 2017. Hence, the predictive models in this study are focused on the two-year period between 2018 and 2019. Results from spatial econometric regression models find strong support for the association between corner drug markets and accidental overdose deaths. In addition, a number of sociostructural factors, such as concentrated disadvantage, and physical environmental factors, particularly blighted housing, are associated with a higher rate of overdose deaths. Implications from this study highlight the need for efforts that strategically coordinate law enforcement, social service provision and reductions in housing blight targeted to particular geographies.

A modified two-process Knox test for investigating the relationship between law enforcement opioid seizures and overdoses

“…A number of studies have documented how law enforcement disruptions to the local drug market can result in persons with a chemical dependency to the seized substances shifting to alternative dealers or using different substances [1,12,16,[32][33][34][35][36][37]. Drug users can have a longstanding and trusting relationship with a supplier which often comes with consistency of a product quality [1].…”

Are we Truly “Safer-At-Home”? A Test of Contextual Effects on Mental Health and Drug Overdose Incidents During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Data on the number of drug offenses per parcel during the pre-COVID and COVID timeframes ( Pre-COVID Drug Offenses and COVID Drug Offenses, respectively) were collected from the sample city’s police department. Because “drug trafficking organizations/gangs” are a predictor of proximal drug overdoses ( Johnson et al, 2020 , p. 13), data obtained from the sample city’s police department was used to create two additional binary measures were created, including whether each parcel was a known drug house ( Drug House coded as “1,” non-drug house coded “0”) or housed at least one known gang members ( Gang Member residence coded as “1,” non-gang member residence “0”). Two measures were created to reflect risky environments, yet also locations that someone may be likely to report a mental health or overdose incident.…”

“…The pandemic has also impacted the U.S. economy, which has been linked to increased suicide rates ( Oyesanya, Lopez-Morinigo, & Dutta, 2015 ). Furthermore, the literature has identified that a strong relationship between concentrated disadvantage and deaths resulting from a drug overdose ( Johnson et al, 2020 ). As such, a measure reflecting Concentrated Poverty was included in analysis ( Massey, 2001 ).…”

Policing and public health calls for service in Philadelphia

“…2 ) and Kensington (B) neighborhoods of the city. Both are focal areas for the homeless populations, with the latter recently referred to as “the largest open-air heroin market on the East Coast of the United States” (Johnson et al, 2020 : 3). Health-related policing calls are up to four times more frequent in the afternoon and evening compared to the early hours of the morning (Fig.…”