Behavioral Changes among Street Level Drug Trafficking Organizations and the Fluctuation in Drug Prices Before and During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

This article focused on behavioral changes in street-level drug trafficking organizations and drug price fluctuations at the retail level during the COVID-19 in Germany, specifically in North Rhine-Westphalia. This study's primary purpose was to understand how the pandemic affected low-level drug markets and whether precautions taken to prevent the spread of disease caused any changes in their operations. Moreover, drug prices were compared before and during the Corona-19 pandemic. This study used a narrative analysis. Thirteen participants, some of whom used multiple drugs and all of whom are regular users, were interviewed from March 2020 to September 2020. Study results showed no significant change either in open or closed markets except for curfew times. Moreover, no shortages existed in the drug supply chain. Nevertheless, there were slight changes in drug distribution methods. Furthermore, contrary to the assumptions, the demand for using the Internet drug market did not increase during the pandemic.