Project team members:

• Assoc. Prof. Dalibor Doležal, PhD
• Assis. Prof. Dijana Jerković, PhD
• Assoc. Prof. Tihana Novak, PhD
• Prof. Ivana Borić, PhD

Associates:

• Assoc. Prof. Arif Akgul, PhD
• Josipa-Lovorka Andreić
• Maja Valentić
• Danijela Glogolja

Drug abuse and related criminality represent a complex security, health, and social issue in Croatia. The drug market is dynamic and changes under the influence of local and global factors such as digitalization, transnational crime, and socio-economic changes. Despite the existence of individual studies, there is a lack of comprehensive research in the Republic of Croatia that would cover the complex layers and structures of the drug market. The goal of this project is to explore the structure, dynamics, and functioning of the drug market in Croatia through the analysis of participant roles, their network positions, motivation, gender and age characteristics and the relationship between drug use and criminal behavior. To achieve this goal, a survey will be conducted on a sample of participants (n=100) from the criminal justice system, social welfare system, and non-governmental organizations. In addition to a questionnaire constructed specifically for the research, the study will utilize the Lifestyle Criminality Screening Form (Walters, 1991) and the Drug Use Disorders Identification Test (Berman, Berman, Palmstierna, & Schlyter, 2005). A part of the main sample (n=20) will participate in semi-structured interviews. This project, based on an interdisciplinary and mixed methodological approach, will provide empirical insights into relational structures, recruitment dynamics, communication patterns and the social consequences of participation in the drug market. The project will connect the micro-level of individual experiences with the macro-level analysis of institutional and societal responses, thereby influencing the shaping of public policies and improving interventions in the field of drug demand reduction.

The project introduces an original analytical framework by applying social network theory to the analysis of illegal drug markets – an approach that is uncommon in Croatia, though widely used in international research. The focus on digital forms of crime, including crypto markets and online distribution, enables the monitoring of contemporary trends. Gender and age-sensitive analysis enhances understanding of marginalized groups, while the integration of prison and non-institutional perspectives offers a comprehensive view of network dynamics.

This is the first project in Croatia to establish a comprehensive database on drug distribution actors and channels, combining quantitative and qualitative data. It also validates theoretical models of social networks in the local context and develops adapted, multidisciplinary approaches for innovative research.

The project has strong practical applications, providing recommendations for improving criminal, health, and social policies based on research findings. It develops guidelines for reducing drug demand among vulnerable groups and strengthens institutional capacities through cooperation with the justice, social welfare, and civil society systems, as well as through training and knowledge transfer.