Marie Griffin and Nancy Rodriguez, two ASU West professors, concluded that females are more likely to make drug purchases through personal networks, as opposed to other affiliations, and that there is a difference between male offenders and female offenders.
The duo researched female drug trends to show their case and to show the effects these trends have on society.
Griffin and Rodriguez both work in the School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, as well as the College of Human Services. Griffin also teaches several classes in the area of institutional and community corrections.
The opportunity knocked at their door when they were solicited by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) to conduct data analyses on existing data sets.
"Dr. Rodriguez had extensive knowledge of the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM), while one of my primary research interests deals with female offenders. This appeared to be the perfect opportunity for collaboration," Griffin said.
Rodriguez's primary focus was on the ADAM data, where she interviewed men and women in different sites, and Griffin primarily looked at the female offenders.
This gave them opportunity to look at the differences between men and women in the drug trade.
"It is important to understand the nature of women's participation in criminal activity and how that often differs from men's activity," Griffin said. "Such an understanding can be used to inform public policy and develop gender specific treatment and/or other criminal justice responses."
Rodriguez said they hope the government uses the information as an intervention.
The two professors said NIJ chose their work on female drug behavior to be highlighted in NIJ's journal, and they feel honored to have been selected.
Griffin said she and Rodriguez are continuing to explore other aspects of women's participation in drug markets.
They plan to use the information for more publications and securing future grants to further their research.
Reach the reporter at: cristina.boccio@asu.edu.
