MAPPING THE CROATIAN DRUG MARKET: A MULTIDIMENSIONAL APPROACH TOILLICIT TRADE AND SOCIAL IMPACT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.46763/SCGW25112g193dAbstract
This article analyses the illegal drug market in Croatia, focusing on its legal, structural and social dimensions. It emphasises the importance of a comprehensive, interdisciplinary approach to understanding the illicit drug economy. Based on the results of a national research project conducted in 2017, the study analyses Croatia’s role as an important transit country along the Balkan drug route, connecting Eastern European production areas with Western consumer markets. Croatia’s recent accession to the Schengen area has further changed the dynamics of drug trafficking and created new challenges and opportunities for society, public policy and law enforcement. The paper examines various components of the Croatian drug market, including supply chains, distribution networks, consumption patterns and the involvement of organised criminal groups. Particular attention is paid to new trends such as the rise of synthetic substances and the social impact of increasing cross-border mobility. These developments are considered in terms of their wider impact on communities, public health, criminal justice practise and social stability. By summarising existing research and emphasising the interconnectedness of legal, economic and social factors, this study highlights the need for a multidimensional understanding of drug markets. It aims to inform evidence-based policy decisions and promote more effective, socially acceptable strategies to address drug-related challenges in national and international contexts.
Keywords: Illicit drug market, Croatia, evidence-based research
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References
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