Abstract
Background: Previous research has identified the impact of law enforcement practices on the behaviours and health of injection drug users (IDUs). We undertook a qualitative study of IDUs' experiences of policing practices in two Mexican cities on the U.S. border. Methods: In 2004, two teams of Mexican interviewers conducted in-depth interviews with IDUs residing in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez (Cd. Juarez), Mexico, who had injected drugs at least once in the prior month. Topics included types of drug used, injection settings, access to sterile needles and experiences with police. Field notes and transcribed interviews were analysed to identify emergent themes. Results: Amongst the 43 participants, most reported that it is common for IDUs to be arrested and detained for 36 h for carrying sterile or used syringes. Most reported that they or someone they knew had been beaten by police. Interviews suggested five key themes relating to police influence on the risk environment: (1) impact of policing practices on accessibility of sterile syringes, (2) influence of police on choice of places to inject drugs (e.g., shooting galleries), (3) police violence, (4) police corruption and (5) perceived changes in policing practices. Conclusion: Findings suggest that some behaviour of police officers in Tijuana and Cd. Juarez is inconsistent with legal norms and may be negatively influencing the risk of acquiring blood-borne infections amongst IDUs. Implementing a comprehensive and successful HIV prevention programme amongst IDUs requires interventions to influence the knowledge, attitudes and practices of law enforcement officers.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 324-331 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | International Journal of Drug Policy |
| Volume | 19 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 2008 |
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Keywords
- Drug policy
- Enforcement
- Injection drug use
- Mexico
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Medicine(all)
- Health Policy
- Health(social science)
Cite this
Injecting drug users' experiences of policing practices in two Mexican-U.S. border cities : Public health perspectives. / Miller, Cari L.; Firestone, Michelle; Ramos, Rebeca; Burris, Scott; Ramos, Maria Elena; Case, Patricia; Brouwer, Kimberly C.; Fraga, Miguel Angel; Strathdee, Steffanie A.
In: International Journal of Drug Policy, Vol. 19, No. 4, 08.2008, p. 324-331.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Injecting drug users' experiences of policing practices in two Mexican-U.S. border cities
T2 - Public health perspectives
AU - Miller, Cari L.
AU - Firestone, Michelle
AU - Ramos, Rebeca
AU - Burris, Scott
AU - Ramos, Maria Elena
AU - Case, Patricia
AU - Brouwer, Kimberly C.
AU - Fraga, Miguel Angel
AU - Strathdee, Steffanie A.
PY - 2008/8
Y1 - 2008/8
N2 - Background: Previous research has identified the impact of law enforcement practices on the behaviours and health of injection drug users (IDUs). We undertook a qualitative study of IDUs' experiences of policing practices in two Mexican cities on the U.S. border. Methods: In 2004, two teams of Mexican interviewers conducted in-depth interviews with IDUs residing in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez (Cd. Juarez), Mexico, who had injected drugs at least once in the prior month. Topics included types of drug used, injection settings, access to sterile needles and experiences with police. Field notes and transcribed interviews were analysed to identify emergent themes. Results: Amongst the 43 participants, most reported that it is common for IDUs to be arrested and detained for 36 h for carrying sterile or used syringes. Most reported that they or someone they knew had been beaten by police. Interviews suggested five key themes relating to police influence on the risk environment: (1) impact of policing practices on accessibility of sterile syringes, (2) influence of police on choice of places to inject drugs (e.g., shooting galleries), (3) police violence, (4) police corruption and (5) perceived changes in policing practices. Conclusion: Findings suggest that some behaviour of police officers in Tijuana and Cd. Juarez is inconsistent with legal norms and may be negatively influencing the risk of acquiring blood-borne infections amongst IDUs. Implementing a comprehensive and successful HIV prevention programme amongst IDUs requires interventions to influence the knowledge, attitudes and practices of law enforcement officers.
AB - Background: Previous research has identified the impact of law enforcement practices on the behaviours and health of injection drug users (IDUs). We undertook a qualitative study of IDUs' experiences of policing practices in two Mexican cities on the U.S. border. Methods: In 2004, two teams of Mexican interviewers conducted in-depth interviews with IDUs residing in Tijuana and Ciudad Juarez (Cd. Juarez), Mexico, who had injected drugs at least once in the prior month. Topics included types of drug used, injection settings, access to sterile needles and experiences with police. Field notes and transcribed interviews were analysed to identify emergent themes. Results: Amongst the 43 participants, most reported that it is common for IDUs to be arrested and detained for 36 h for carrying sterile or used syringes. Most reported that they or someone they knew had been beaten by police. Interviews suggested five key themes relating to police influence on the risk environment: (1) impact of policing practices on accessibility of sterile syringes, (2) influence of police on choice of places to inject drugs (e.g., shooting galleries), (3) police violence, (4) police corruption and (5) perceived changes in policing practices. Conclusion: Findings suggest that some behaviour of police officers in Tijuana and Cd. Juarez is inconsistent with legal norms and may be negatively influencing the risk of acquiring blood-borne infections amongst IDUs. Implementing a comprehensive and successful HIV prevention programme amongst IDUs requires interventions to influence the knowledge, attitudes and practices of law enforcement officers.
KW - Drug policy
KW - Enforcement
KW - Injection drug use
KW - Mexico
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=47249134559&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=47249134559&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.drugpo.2007.06.002
DO - 10.1016/j.drugpo.2007.06.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 17997089
AN - SCOPUS:47249134559
VL - 19
SP - 324
EP - 331
JO - International Journal of Drug Policy
JF - International Journal of Drug Policy
SN - 0955-3959
IS - 4
ER -