Date of Conferral

2019

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Gregory M. Koehle

Abstract

This research is focused on evaluation of National Strategy Against Narcotics (NSAN) enacted in 2012 in Kosovo. The purpose of this study was to understand the impact of NSAN through visualizing data and gaining deeper insight from experiences of antidrug experts. Convergent parallel mixed methods were used to answer the main research questions. The central research questions examined the impact of strategy implementation in juvenile drug arrest reduction, and its effectiveness on Kosovo criminal justice system. Markwood's comprehensive theory of substance abuse prevention (CTSAP) was used to assess and explore the NSAN. Deidentified juvenile arrest rates taken from Kosovo official police records, were visualized though a scatterplot to show the impact of arrest rates from 2009 to 2015. On qualitative part, 11 antidrug officers who handled juvenile drug arrest cases were in-depth interviewed. Visualized data showed that NSAN did not decrease juvenile drug arrest rates after its implementation, as the juvenile drug arrest rates increased after its implementation. However, participants in this study perceived NSAN as positive, with positive impact in increasing cooperation between other agencies, thus resulting in more arrests. Interview answers received from participants of the study confirmed Markwood's CTSAP. Overall, mixed results came out of this study, and further research is needed with wider scope of data analysis to fully evaluate the effects of this strategy. NSAN itself did not have desired impact in reducing juvenile drug arrests in Kosovo, but analysis of this strategy brought attention of increasing juvenile drug issues in Kosovo.

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