Managing pleasures and harms: An ethnographic study of drug consumption in public spaces, homes and drug consumption rooms

Rafael Clua-García

doi:10.18294/sc.2020.2481

Managing pleasures and harms: An ethnographic study of drug consumption in public spaces, homes and drug consumption rooms

Rafael Clua-García PhD in Social and Cultural Anthropology. Associate Professor, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud de Manresa, Universitat de Vic - Universitat Central de Catalunya, Manresa, Spain.

Received: 20 August 2019, Accepted: 16 June 2020, Published: 21 July 2020

https://doi.org/10.18294/sc.2020.2481 | PMID: 33147386

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Abstract

Drug consumption rooms (DCR) aim to facilitate consumption in hygienic and safe conditions. However, users also consume drugs in public spaces and homes generating incremental risk for health. To strengthen our understanding of consumption practices, we conducted an ethnographic study in different consumption locations in Barcelona, including DCRs, public spaces, and homes. Focusing on consumption practices and narratives, we conducted participant observation and interviewed 16 DCR users. Our findings show that different consumption spaces allow users to experiment different types of pleasures. In addition, consumption in each type of location is associated with various types of harms, which are managed by users by self-regulating their practices. These aspects, therefore, must be taken into account to design harm reduction action aligned with users’ practices.

Keywords: Drug Users, Harm Reduction, Needle-Exchange Programs, Qualitative Research, Heroin Dependence, Cocaine, Spain

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