ABSTRACT
Despite differences in legislation, culture and societal organization, open use and dealing of drugs is a common problem in societies around the globe. In Open Drug Scenes (ODS), use and dealing of drugs take place in public. This study investigates the spatial nature of ODS in Stockholm, Sweden. The study is an exploratory way to show whether and how ODS influence their surroundings, through an analysis of crime statistics and a citizen safety survey. The study found 48 ODS in the Stockholm region, and just above 50 percent of them showed disrupted symptoms such as crime hotspots in the surrounding areas. The feeling of being unsafe, shootings, and crime concentration at these places is evidence of the impact ODS has on communities. We conclude by making suggestions on how to better understand and respond to the problems of ODS and their local impact.
