Open drug scenes across city sizes: Socioeconomic status, crime patterns and community perspectives

Aims: Open drug scenes (ODS) have increasingly drawn the attention of the police and municipalities in Sweden. These locations, where illicit drugs are sold and/or consumed, are often associated with various forms of disorder and crime. While ODS are typically depicted as a phenomenon predominantly found in larger cities, their prevalence and characteristics in smaller cities remain underexplored. This study aims to analyse the patterns and characteristics of ODS, as identified by the police and municipalities, across a range of cities in southern Sweden. Methods: By utilising spatial and temporal analyses of police-reported crimes and demographic statistics, this research examines the characteristics of identified ODS and their connections to socioeconomic disadvantage. Results: The findings suggest that the identified ODS in smaller cities share similar patterns to those found in prior research and in larger urban areas, characterised by lower socioeconomic status and elevated crime rates. Conclusions: Police and municipalities in smaller cities identify places in their communities that closely resemble, although are not necessarily equivalent to, an ODS. Nevertheless, these places are disproportionately burdened by social problems and require targeted assistance.