Evaluating Actions against Local Drug Markets: A ‘Systematic’ Review of Research

There is a clear need and desire to develop policy based on evidence of what works. However, evidence on what works in terms of disrupting drugs supply remains unclear. In this article a ‘systematic’ review of the research evidence that focuses on attempts to disrupt local retail drug markets is undertaken. The search was conducted for studies in English using electronic databases, citation indexes and journal abstracts. Papers were reviewed for five methodological criteria which 15 studies met. These 15 studies fell into two distinct groups: evaluations of interventions to disrupt drug-dealing from residential or commercial properties; and interventions which sought to disrupt drug dealing taking place in the open or on city streets. Studies were then graded according to the effectiveness of the invention they evaluated. Finally, areas of effectiveness along with implications for designing interventions and evaluations are discussed.