Transcript February 13, 2007

SOCI3055A
STUDIES IN ADDICTIONS
February 13, 2007
INTERVENTIONS
Drug Policy & Harm Reduction
Overview
Readings:
* Serge, S. (2003). “Perverse Effects” in Controlling Illegal
Drugs. A Comparative Study. New York: Aldine de Gruyter. pp.
87-113.
* Poulin, C. (2006). Harm Reduction and Policies and Programs
for Youth. Ottawa: Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse.
* M. Tyndall, P. Spittal, S. Coulter, M. O’Shaughnessy, M.
Schechter (2003). “High pregnancy rates and reproductive health
indicators among female injection-drug users in Vancouver,
Canada”. The European Journal of Contraception and
Reproductive Health Care. 8. pp. 52-58.
Class outline
(1) Guest speaker – Gerald Thomas, Senior
Research Advisor, Canadian Centre on
Substance Abuse
(2) Group project – Working as a team
(3) Complete - “Research methods in
addictions – Forward to the basics”
(4) Harm reduction
(5) Drug policy & film “Drug War Odyssey”
(1) Guest Speaker
Gerald Thomas, Senior Research Advisor,
Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse
(2) Group Project
MARCH 13
• Smoking (illicit drugs, tobacco)
• Alcohol
• Food
• Pornography
MARCH 20
5. Caffeine
6. Safe injection facilities
7. Gambling
8. Mental health & substance abuse
MARCH 27
9. Sex workers & drug use
10. Steroids & athletes
11. Plastic surgery
Group work = Team work
(3) CONTINUED
Research methods in addictions
 Forward to the basics
(C ) What is community-based
research?
“CBR [community-based research] is a
collaborative approach to research that equitably
involves all partners in the research process and
recognizes the unique strengths that each brings.
CBR begins with a research topic of importance to
the community with the aim of combining
knowledge and action to improve community health
and eliminate health disparities”.
(Kellogg Community Health Scholars Program)
How CBR differs from a Western
scientific approach to research
INPUT
Research is driven by community needs.
PROCESS
Community plays a role in gathering, analyzing and
disseminating information.
OUTCOME
Research is intended to be used by the community to
enhance health and build on community assets.
(Paez-Victor, 2002)
CBPR Principles
• Communities are involved in the initiation of
research ideas and partnerships.
• Equitable partnerships are created between research
partners, where each contributes essential skill sets.
• Communities can be involved in collection,
interpretation and dissemination of data.
• Enhances the capacities and skills of all partners.
• Communities should benefit from the research
being conducted.
(The Wellesley Institute, 2006)
(D ) What is Aboriginal research?
 OCAP principles
B. Schnarch (2004). “Ownership, Control, Access and
Possession (OCAP) or Self-Determination Applied to
Research. A Critical Analysis of Contemporary First Nations
Research and Some Options for First Nations
Communities”. Journal of Aboriginal Health. Vol.1, No.1.
http://www.naho.ca/english/pdf/journal_p80-95.pdf
 Aboriginal methods
 Aboriginal research ethics
M. Castellano (2004). “Ethics of Aboriginal Research”.
Journal of Aboriginal Health. Vol.1, No.1.
http://www.naho.ca/english/pdf/journal_p98-114.pdf
Aboriginal methodology
Aboriginal research ethics:
8 Principles for developing ethical
codes for research and partnership
Creating Knowledge – An Aboriginal Right
Fiduciary Obligations
Diversity of Aboriginal Cultures
Scope of Ethics Regimes
Harmonization of Ethical Protection and
Intellectual Property
6. Administrative Infrastructure
7. Costs of Implementing an Ethical Regime
8. Education for Ethical Practice
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
(E) A research example
Aboriginal Women Drug Users in Conflict
with the Law: A Study of the Role of SelfIdentity in the Healing Journey.
http://www.carleton.ca/aboriginalwomenand
stigmaresearch/
(4) Harm Reduction
Harm Reduction Defined
1. A health-centred approach that seeks to reduce the
health and social harms associated with alcohol
and drug use, without necessarily requiring that
users abstain.
2. A non-judgmental response that meets users
‘where they are’ with regard to their substance
use.
3. It offers users choice & forefronts respect for an
individual and their choices.
(Thomas 2005/Dell & Lyons forthcoming)
What is the significance of this
quote…
If you say that I can’t come [to your program]
because I am using, then you’re telling me
that I don’t deserve to heal. Until you’re
clean you’re not good enough. I already have
a core belief that I am not good enough and
that message just affirms that core belief.
(BCCEWH presentation, 2006)
Features of Harm Reduction
 Pragmatism
 Humane Values
 Focus on Harms
 Hierarchy of Goals
(Thomas, 2005)
Examples of Harm Reduction
http://www.vch.ca/sis/about.htm
Response Piece:
Agree, Disagree, Both
“Accept the fact that for better or worse, licit
and illicit drug use is a part of our world and
work to minimize harmful effects rather than
simply ignoring or condemning them is the
best approach.”
(5) Drug Policy
 Supply reduction
 Demand reduction