Theme: Social Science & Policy Research Year: 2024
Background: Drug consumption is illegal in several countries where persons in possession of drugs are often detained by police; sometimes, physically violated when in custody. Moreover, members of society associate persons who use drugs (PWUD) with criminal activities inflicting acts of violence against them. These acts are more visible in recent times with multimedia swiftly spreading across digital platforms. There is little understanding of what this visibility means to PWUD. The objective of this study is to understand the various forms of violence towards PWUD, with a focus on the role of information and technology in escalating these.
Methods: This was a qualitative study: 23 interviews and several informal discussions and were held with PWUD, harm reduction staff, managers and consultants. Field notes from observations at a consultation workshop with a drug user network, and multimedia of concern were made. An interpretive thematic analysis of the data were made. Ethical measures were considered during this study.
Results: PWUD face various forms of violence including those spiralled by the spread of an online video gone viral. Concerns include propagating the normalisation of violence towards PWUD. Police support towards this societal moral policing feeds into the criminalisation of the PWUD, in some cases affecting their access to basic commodities including health care. Information about protective laws remain in the technology of the mobile app, with little awareness and practice in reality.
Conclusion: The study recognises the role of information and technology in intensifying violence that PWUD face. Findings may help create stringent and protective technology-related policies. Practitioners may benefit to realise how information sharing through digital apps follow a de jure than de facto route, with the need to do more to increase awareness among those with lived experiences and in society as a whole.
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