scholarly journals Reaching High: Translating Emergent Practices of Street-Level Drug Users to Institute Harm Reduction in Durban—Implications for Urban Governance

Urban Forum ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monique Marks ◽  
Sogen Moodley
Keyword(s):  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Urban Governance ◽  
Street Level

The neoliberal governance of heroin and opioid users in Philadelphia city

2021 ◽  
pp. 174165902199119
Author(s):  
Philip R Kavanaugh ◽  
Jennifer L Schally
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Policy Documents ◽  
Media Portrayals ◽  
Neoliberal Governance ◽  
Public Nuisance ◽  
Fiscal Austerity ◽  
Opioid Users ◽  
Governmental Response

Drawing on 147 news accounts and five policy documents on the heroin and opioid crisis in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania published between 2016 and 2018, our analysis highlights how media portrayals of opioid users as both tragic victims and public nuisance prompted a schizoid governmental response that draws on rhetorics of treatment and harm reduction to legitimate more punitive interventions. By describing how the state’s quasi-medical responsibilization strategy devolved to fold criminalization into its broader response, we argue the effort to wage a kinder/gentler war on overdose invests in familiar tropes of a recalcitrant drug user class that is a threat to public health. In doing so we provide a basis to critique how drug users are governed in this time of fiscal austerity, resource hoarding, and perpetual, continually evolving drug crises.

scholarly journals Public health risk factors at music festivals: “Be Safe Lab” initiative

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
A Beržanskytė
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Medical Knowledge ◽  
Integrated Services ◽  
Unprotected Sex ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Music Festivals ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
Non Governmental Organizations

Abstract Background At large public events such as music festivals there is an increased exposure to the risk factors as alcohol, tobacco and narcotics, unprotected sex, trauma and violence. Non-governmental organizations engage in prevention and support activities at such events. An initiative “Be Safe Lab” has developed in Lithuania to reduce the likelihood of adverse events due to harmful behavior at public festivals. Study Aim To investigate the experience of operating the “Be Safe Lab” initiative at Lithuanian music festivals. Methods In this qualitative study the data were collected from five “Be Safe Lab” volunteer staff using semi-structured interviews lasting in average of 50 minutes. The main guidelines were prepared and informants were asked to tell in general about the initiative, motives and reasons to develop the initiative, its goals and tasks, the questions that visitors apply to them, challenges and obstacles, personal experience in the initiative. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis according to Braun and Clarke (2013). Results The analysis revealed 6 main themes: principles of the initiative, variety of services, substance use harm reduction, changes of volunteers' perspectives, the role of teamwork, and initiative challenges. Conclusions The initiative has a number of strengths and challenges. Integrated services are provided not just to drug users, but also to other festival visitors who seek help or advice. The volunteer staff must have special skills, competencies and medical knowledge. The harm reduction measures for drugs and psychoactive substances used in the initiative are believed to be effective and attract music festival visitors. Initiative volunteers benefit both personally and professionally from providing services. However, further success of the initiative requires additional financial support, training, and collaboration with institutions providing emergency medical services at music festivals. Key messages Integrated services are provided to any festival visitor who seek help from “Be Safe Lab” specialists. The initiative volunteers benefit both personally and professionally from providing services.

Policy translation in global health governance: Localising harm reduction in Tajikistan

2020 ◽  
pp. 146801812096185
Author(s):  
Karolina Kluczewska ◽  
Oleg Korneev
Keyword(s):  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Global Governance ◽  
Injection Drug Users ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Local Population ◽  
Asian Country ◽  
Injection Drug ◽  
Heroin Addiction ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Opioid Substitution Therapy

This article analyses how global governance frameworks and knowledge claims are translated to fit local contexts. It specifically looks at harm reduction initiatives targeting injection drug users utilising the case of Tajikistan. In the 1990s, this post–Soviet Central Asian country became exposed to an inflow of cheap and easily available heroin from Afghanistan. While Tajikistan mainly became a transit country, some parts of the local population also became addicted. To tackle the negative consequences of heroin addiction, starting from the 1990s international donors proposed the country adopt a range of harm reduction measures, including providing access to opioid substitution therapy and establishing drop-in centres where single-use needles and syringes would be distributed. This article discusses how donor-promoted harm reduction initiatives were localised in Tajikistan, why and with what outcomes. It argues that instead of a full acceptance or rejection of knowledge promoted by international actors, a complex translation process can be observed on the ground. International norms are thus localised by taking into account societal attitudes towards injection drug users, the changing nature of legitimate expertise, evolving national legislation and everyday practices, against the background of other conflicting global governance regimes and local geopolitical priorities.

scholarly journals Canada opposes harm reduction policies for drug users

2014 ◽  
Vol 186 (4) ◽  
pp. 256-256
Author(s):  
P. C. Webster
Keyword(s):  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Drug Users

scholarly journals Correlates of Knowledge of HIV Transmission Among Incident Cases of HIV in a Cohort of Injection Drug Users Receiving Harm Reduction Services at Karachi, Pakistan

2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 286-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rab Nawaz Samo ◽  
Arshad Altaf ◽  
Sharaf Ali Shah
Keyword(s):  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Injection Drug Users ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Hiv Transmission ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Unprotected Sex ◽  
Injection Drug ◽  
P Value ◽  
High Risk Population ◽  
Incident Cases

Background: Knowledge of risk factors for HIV transmission in high-risk population plays a critical role in averting the risk of HIV transmission. In Pakistan, injection drug users (IDUs) constitute the core risk group of HIV prevalence, where the epidemic has transitioned to a “concentrated level.” Still nothing is known about the role of knowledge in HIV transmission and HIV sero-conversion among IDUs in Pakistan. Methods: From 2009 to 2011, a nested case–control study was conducted in a cohort of 636 IDUs receiving harm reduction services in the mega city of Karachi. Results: In multivariable regression analysis, 3 factors, namely HIV does not spread through unprotected sex (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 3.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.39-6.90, P value .01), HIV does not transmit by sharing syringes (AOR: 3.5, 95% CI 1.97-6.40, P value <.00), and the risk of HIV cannot be minimized by using new syringe every time (AOR: 2.0, 95% CI 1.16-3.60, P value .01), were significantly associated with the incident cases of HIV. Conclusion: The study findings suggest the association between knowledge of HIV transmission and HIV sero-incident cases.

The cost-effectiveness of consistent and early intervention of harm reduction for injecting drug users in Bangladesh

Addiction ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 105 (2) ◽  
pp. 319-328 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lorna Guinness ◽  
Peter Vickerman ◽  
Zahidul Quayyum ◽  
Anna Foss ◽  
Charlotte Watts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Intervention ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Injecting Drug Users ◽  
The Cost

scholarly journals High HIV seroconversion rate in hepatitis C virus-infected drug users followed in a harm reduction unit

AIDS ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (9) ◽  
pp. 1157-1163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Valencia ◽  
Pablo Ryan ◽  
Alejandro Alvaro-Meca ◽  
Jesús Troya ◽  
Jorge Gutierrez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Seroconversion Rate ◽  
Hiv Seroconversion
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