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arXiv · 2305.19859

Exploring the Journey to Drug Overdose: Applying the Journey to Crime Framework to Drug Sales Locations and Overdose Death Locations

Murat Ozer·Ismail Onat·Halil Akbas·Nelly Elsayed·Zag ElSayed·Said Varlioglu
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Abstract

Drug overdose is a pressing public health concern in the United States, resulting in a significant number of fatalities each year. In this study, we employ the Journey to Crime (JTC) framework borrowed from the field of environmental criminology to examine the association between drug sales locations and overdose death locations. In this research, our objective is to elucidate the trajectory of overdose victims to overdose locations, aiming to enhance the distribution of overdose services and interventions. To the best of our knowledge, no previous studies have applied the JTC framework to investigate drug overdose deaths. By scrutinizing data obtained from the Hamilton County, OH Coroners, and the Cincinnati Police Department, we endeavor to explore the plausible correlation between overdose deaths and drug sales locations. Our findings underscore the necessity of implementing a comprehensive strategy to curtail overdose deaths. This strategy should encompass various facets, including targeted efforts to reduce the accessibility of illicit drugs, the enhancement of responses to overdose incidents through a collaborative multidisciplinary approach, and the availability of data to inform evidence-based strategies and facilitate outcome evaluation. By shedding light on the relationship between drug sales locations and overdose death locations through the utilization of the JTC framework, this study contributes valuable insights to the field of drug overdose prevention. It emphasizes the significance of adopting multifaceted approaches to address this public health crisis effectively. Ultimately, our research aims to inform the development of evidence-based interventions and policies that can mitigate the occurrence and impact of drug overdoses in our communities.

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Murat Ozer, Ismail Onat, Halil Akbas, Nelly Elsayed, Zag ElSayed, Said Varlioglu. 2023-05-31. Exploring the Journey to Drug Overdose: Applying the Journey to Crime Framework to Drug Sales Locations and Overdose Death Locations. https://arxiv.org/abs/2305.19859

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