TY - JOUR
T1 - Studying illicit drug markets
T2 - Disciplinary contributions
AU - Ritter, Alison
PY - 2006/12
Y1 - 2006/12
N2 - This paper provides a reflective account of the different disciplinary approaches to studying illicit drug markets. The term 'drug market' is used widely in illicit drug research, and means different things to different researchers. An economist may have a very specific view of what is meant by a drug market, and that will differ from one held by an ethnographer. The paper endeavours to describe and explain five different disciplinary approaches to studying drug markets-ethnographic and qualitative approaches; economic approaches; behavioural and psychological research; population-based and survey research; criminology and law enforcement evaluation. Each discipline has strengths and limitations. I do not argue for the supremacy of one approach, but that we need to appreciate the different approaches and develop better multi-disciplinary models.
AB - This paper provides a reflective account of the different disciplinary approaches to studying illicit drug markets. The term 'drug market' is used widely in illicit drug research, and means different things to different researchers. An economist may have a very specific view of what is meant by a drug market, and that will differ from one held by an ethnographer. The paper endeavours to describe and explain five different disciplinary approaches to studying drug markets-ethnographic and qualitative approaches; economic approaches; behavioural and psychological research; population-based and survey research; criminology and law enforcement evaluation. Each discipline has strengths and limitations. I do not argue for the supremacy of one approach, but that we need to appreciate the different approaches and develop better multi-disciplinary models.
KW - Drug markets
KW - Multi-disciplinary research
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33750731296&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.drugpo.2006.09.004
DO - 10.1016/j.drugpo.2006.09.004
M3 - Short survey
SN - 0955-3959
VL - 17
SP - 453
EP - 463
JO - International Journal of Drug Policy
JF - International Journal of Drug Policy
IS - 6
ER -