Abstract:
This study provides a systematic review of existing studies that used agent-based modeling (ABM) to inform substance abuse policies and identifies future research directi...Show MoreMetadata
Abstract:
This study provides a systematic review of existing studies that used agent-based modeling (ABM) to inform substance abuse policies and identifies future research directions. The detailed review included 20 articles, among which, tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, opioids, and heroin substance abuse were studied. These studies examined substance abuse interventions and the associations between substance use and social behavior, such as peer interaction and selection. Effective interventions included retailer density reduction policies, restriction of trading hours of licensed venues, ecstasy pill-testing and passive-alert detection dogs by police at public venues, and a mass-media drug prevention education policy. ABM can capture the dynamic interactions among and between agents and environments, making it appropriate to model complex substance abuse behaviors. Limitations in current studies include a lack of ABM validation efforts and generalizable data. Future studies should use generalizable and abundant information to inform their ABM, as well as have an explicit validation method.
Published in: 2023 Winter Simulation Conference (WSC)
Date of Conference: 10-13 December 2023
Date Added to IEEE Xplore: 31 January 2024
ISBN Information: