Experiences with Policing among People Who Inject Drugs in Bangkok, Thailand: A Qualitative Study
Background:
Despite Thailand's commitment to treating people who use drugs as “patients” not “criminals,” Thai authorities continue to emphasize criminal law enforcement for drug control. In 2003, Thailand's drug war received international criticism due to extensive human rights violations. However, few studies have since investigated the impact of policing on drug-using populations. Therefore, we sought to examine experiences with policing among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Bangkok, Thailand, between 2008 and 2012.
Methods and Findings:
Between July 2011 and June 2012, semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 42 community-recruited PWID participating in the Mitsampan Community Research Project in Bangkok. Interviews explored PWID's encounters with police during the past three years. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim, and a thematic analysis was conducted to document the character of PWID's experiences with police. Respondents indicated that policing activities had noticeably intensified since rapid urine toxicology screening became available to police. Respondents reported various forms of police misconduct, including false accusations, coercion of confessions, excessive use of force, and extortion of money. However, respondents were reluctant to report misconduct to the authorities in the face of social and structural barriers to seeking justice. Respondents' strategies to avoid police impeded access to health care and facilitated transitions towards the misuse of prescribed pharmaceuticals. The study's limitations relate to the transferability of the findings, including the potential biases associated with the small convenience sample.
Conclusions:
This study suggests that policing in Bangkok has involved injustices, human rights abuses, and corruption, and policing practices in this setting appeared to have increased PWID's vulnerability to poor health through various pathways. Novel to this study are findings pertaining to the use of urine drug testing by police, which highlight the potential for widespread abuse of this emerging technology. These findings raise concern about ongoing policing practices in this setting.
Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary
Vyšlo v časopise:
Experiences with Policing among People Who Inject Drugs in Bangkok, Thailand: A Qualitative Study. PLoS Med 10(12): e32767. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001570
Kategorie:
Research Article
prolekare.web.journal.doi_sk:
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001570
Souhrn
Background:
Despite Thailand's commitment to treating people who use drugs as “patients” not “criminals,” Thai authorities continue to emphasize criminal law enforcement for drug control. In 2003, Thailand's drug war received international criticism due to extensive human rights violations. However, few studies have since investigated the impact of policing on drug-using populations. Therefore, we sought to examine experiences with policing among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Bangkok, Thailand, between 2008 and 2012.
Methods and Findings:
Between July 2011 and June 2012, semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with 42 community-recruited PWID participating in the Mitsampan Community Research Project in Bangkok. Interviews explored PWID's encounters with police during the past three years. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed verbatim, and a thematic analysis was conducted to document the character of PWID's experiences with police. Respondents indicated that policing activities had noticeably intensified since rapid urine toxicology screening became available to police. Respondents reported various forms of police misconduct, including false accusations, coercion of confessions, excessive use of force, and extortion of money. However, respondents were reluctant to report misconduct to the authorities in the face of social and structural barriers to seeking justice. Respondents' strategies to avoid police impeded access to health care and facilitated transitions towards the misuse of prescribed pharmaceuticals. The study's limitations relate to the transferability of the findings, including the potential biases associated with the small convenience sample.
Conclusions:
This study suggests that policing in Bangkok has involved injustices, human rights abuses, and corruption, and policing practices in this setting appeared to have increased PWID's vulnerability to poor health through various pathways. Novel to this study are findings pertaining to the use of urine drug testing by police, which highlight the potential for widespread abuse of this emerging technology. These findings raise concern about ongoing policing practices in this setting.
Please see later in the article for the Editors' Summary
Zdroje
1. Global Commission on HIV and the Law (2012) Risks, rights and health. Available: http://www.hivlawcommission.org. Accessed 8 September 2013.
2. Global Commission on Drug Policy (2011) Report of the Global Commission on Drug Policy. Available: http://www.globalcommissionondrugs.org/reports/. Accessed 8 September 2013.
3. WoodE, WerbD, KazatchkineM, KerrT, HankinsC, et al. (2010) Vienna Declaration: a call for evidence-based drug policies. Lancet 376: 310–312.
4. KerrT, SmallW, WoodE (2005) The public health and social impacts of drug market enforcement: a review of the evidence. Int J Drug Policy 16: 210–220.
5. SmallW, KerrT, CharetteJ, SchechterMT, SpittalPM (2006) Impacts of intensified police activity on injection drug users: evidence from an ethnographic investigation. Int J Drug Policy 17: 85–95.
6. MaherL, DixonD (2001) The cost of crackdowns: policing Cabramatta's heroin market. Current Issues Crim Just 13: 5–22.
7. AssanangkornchaiS, AramrattanaA, PerngparnU, KanatoM, KanikaN, et al. (2008) Current situation of substance-related problems in Thailand. J Psychiatr Assoc Thai 53: 24S–36S.
8. National AIDS Prevention and Alleviation Committee, (2010) UNGASS country progress report Thailand: reporting period: January 2008–December 2009. Available: http://data.unaids.org/pub/Report/2010/thailand_2010_country_progress_report_en.pdf. Accessed 8 September 2013.
9. Office of the Narcotics Control Board of Thailand (2011) National narcotics control policy on kingdom's unity for victory over drugs strategy. Available: http://en.oncb.go.th/file/information_policy.html. Accessed 8 September 2013.
10. BeyrerC, JittiwutikarnJ, TeokulW, RazakMH, SuriyanonV, et al. (2003) Drug use, increasing incarceration rates, and prison-associated HIV risks in Thailand. AIDS Behav 7: 153–161.
11. BuaviratA, Page-ShaferK, van GriensvenGJP, MandelJS, EvansJ, et al. (2003) Risk of prevalent HIV infection associated with incarceration among injecting drug users in Bangkok, Thailand: case-control study. BMJ 326: 308.
12. ChoopanyaK, Jarlais DesDC, VanichseniS, KitayapornD, MockPA, et al. (2002) Incarceration and risk for HIV infection among injection drug users in Bangkok. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 29: 86–94.
13. VanichseniS, KitayapornD, MastroTD, MockPA, RakthamS, et al. (2001) Continued high HIV-1 incidence in a vaccine trial preparatory cohort of injection drug users in Bangkok, Thailand. AIDS 15: 397–405.
14. Office of the Narcotics Control Board of Thailand (2007) Narcotic laws of Thailand. Bangkok: Office of the Narcotics Control Board, Ministry of Justice, Thailand.
15. Pearshouse R (2009) Compulsory drug treatment in Thailand: observations on the Narcotic Addict Rehabilitation Act B.E. 2545 (2002). Toronto: Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network.
16. International Labour Organisation, Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations Development Programme, United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization, United Nations Population Fund, et al. (2012) Joint statement: compulsory drug detention and rehabilitation centres. Available: http://www.unaids.org/en/media/unaids/contentassets/documents/document/2012/JC2310_Joint%20Statement6March12FINAL_en.pdf. Accessed 8 September 2013.
17. Harm Reduction International, Human Rights Watch (2008) Thailand's ‘war on drugs’. Available: http://www.hrw.org/news/2008/03/12/thailand-s-war-drugs. Accessed 8 September 2013.
18. Human Rights Watch (2004) Not enough graves: the war on drugs, HIV/AIDS, and violations of human rights. New York: Human Rights Watch.
19. Narcotics Control Board of Thailand (2009) Narcotics Control Board's order No. 1/B.E. 2552 (2009) on national narcotics control mechanisms under the five fences strategy. Available: http://en.oncb.go.th/document/NCB%20ORDER1-52.pdf. Accessed 8 September 2013.
20. Office of the Narcotics Control Board of Thailand (2006) Roadmap of drug surveillance and establishment of sustainable victory over drugs 2006–2008. Available: http://en.oncb.go.th/document/Roadmap06-08.pdf. Accessed 8 September 2013.
21. Vejjajiva A (2009) Prime Minister's order No. 249/2552 (2009): the national strength to overcome drugs under five-defensive fences strategy phase II (November 2009–September 2010). Available: http://en.oncb.go.th/document/ORDER249-2552.pdf. Accessed 8 September 2013.
22. Office of the Narcotics Control Board of Thailand (2010) Thailand narcotics control annual report 2010. Bangkok: Office of the Narcotics Control Board, Ministry of Justice, Thailand.
23. Ngamkham W (2012 August 17) Govt war on drugs hailed a success. Bangkok: Bangkok Post.
24. Charoenpo A, Laohong K-O (2010 December 17) Govt declares new war on drug trade. Bangkok: Bangkok Post.
25. CooperH, MooreL, GruskinS, KriegerN (2005) The impact of a police drug crackdown on drug injectors' ability to practice harm reduction: a qualitative study. Soc Sci Med 61: 673–684.
26. MillerCL, FirestoneM, RamosR, BurrisS, RamosME, et al. (2008) Injecting drug users' experiences of policing practices in two Mexican-U.S. border cities: public health perspectives. Int J Drug Policy 19: 324–331.
27. SarangA, RhodesT, SheonN, PageK (2010) Policing drug users in Russia: risk, fear, and structural violence. Subst Use Misuse 45: 813–864.
28. SandelowskiM (2000) Whatever happened to qualitative description? Res Nurs Health 23: 334–340.
29. RhodesT (2002) The “risk environment”: a framework for understanding and reducing drug-related harm. Int J Drug Policy 13: 85–94.
30. RhodesT (2009) Risk environments and drug harms: a social science for harm reduction approach. Int J Drug Policy 20: 193–201.
31. HayashiK, FairbairnN, SuwannawongP, KaplanK, WoodE, et al. (2012) Collective empowerment while creating knowledge: a description of a community-based participatory research project with drug users in Bangkok, Thailand. Subst Use Misuse 47: 502–510.
32. HayashiK, SuwannawongP, TiL, KaplanK, WoodE, et al. (2013) High rates of midazolam injection and associated harms in Bangkok, Thailand. Addiction 108: 944–952.
33. JürgensR, CseteJ, AmonJJ, BaralS, BeyrerC (2010) People who use drugs, HIV, and human rights. Lancet 376: 475–485.
34. Csete J (2007) Do not cross: policing and HIV risk faced by people who use drugs. Toronto: Canadian HIV/AIDS Legal Network.
35. SandelowskiM (1993) Rigor or rigor mortis: the problem of rigor in qualitative research revisited. ANS Adv Nurs Sci 16: 1–8.
36. FairbairnN, KaplanK, HayashiK, SuwannawongP, LaiC, et al. (2009) Reports of evidence planting by police among a community-based sample of injection drug users in Bangkok, Thailand. BMC Int Health Hum Rights 9: 24.
37. HayashiK, TiL, CseteJ, KaplanK, SuwannawongP, et al. (2013) Reports of police beating and associated harms among people who inject drugs in Bangkok, Thailand: a serial cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 13: 733.
38. HayashiK, TiL, BuxtonJA, KaplanK, SuwannawongP, et al. (2013) The effect of exposures to policing on syringe sharing among people who inject drugs in Bangkok, Thailand. AIDS Behav 17 2615–2623.
39. WerbD, HayashiK, FairbairnN, KaplanK, SuwannawongP, et al. (2009) Drug use patterns among Thai illicit drug injectors amidst increased police presence. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 4: 16.
40. TiL, HayashiK, KaplanK, SuwannawongP, WoodE, et al. (2013) HIV test avoidance among people who inject drugs in Thailand. AIDS Behav 17: 2474–2478.
41. Bangkok Post (2011 August 18) Top cop orders blitz on drugs. Bangkok: Bangkok Post.
42. Office of the Narcotics Control Board of Thailand (2009) Thailand narcotics control annual report 2009. Bangkok: Office of the Narcotics Control Board, Ministry of Justice, Thailand.
43. Human Rights Watch, Thai AIDS Treatment Action Group (2007) Deadly denial: barriers to HIV/AIDS treatment for people who use drugs in Thailand. New York: Human Rights Watch.
44. KerrT, Kiatying-AngsuleN, FairbairnN, HayashiK, SuwannawongP, et al. (2010) High rates of midazolam injection among drug users in Bangkok, Thailand. Harm Reduct J 7: 7.
45. Quah JST (2011) Thailand. Research in public policy analysis and management: Curbing corruption in Asian countries: An impossible dream? Bingley: Emerald Group Publishing, Vol. 20. pp. 269–306.
46. Constitution Drafting Commission (2007) Constitution of the Kingdom of Thailand B.E. 2550 (2007). Bangkok: Bureau of Printing Services, Secretariat of the House of Representatives.
47. Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (2000) General Comment 14: The right to the highest attainable standard of health. UN Doc. E/C.12/2000/4. Geneva: Economic and Social Council. Available: http://www.unhchr.ch/tbs/doc.nsf/(symbol)/E.C.12.2000.4.En. Accessed 8 September 2013.
48. PolliniRA, BrouwerKC, LozadaRM, RamosR, CruzMF, et al. (2008) Syringe possession arrests are associated with receptive syringe sharing in two Mexico-US border cities. Addiction 103: 101–108.
49. StrathdeeSA, LozadaR, PolliniRA, BrouwerKC, MantsiosA, et al. (2008) Individual, social, and environmental influences associated with HIV infection among injection drug users in Tijuana, Mexico. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 47: 369–376.
50. Human Rights Watch (2011) The rehab archipelago: forced labor and other abuses in drug detention centers in Southern Vietnam. New York: Human Rights Watch.
51. Human Rights Watch (2011) Somsanga's secrets: arbitrary detention, physical abuse, and suicide inside a Lao drug detention center. New York: Human Rights Watch.
52. Shields A (2009) The effects of drug user registration laws on people's rights and health: key findings from Russia, Georgia, and Ukraine. New York: Public Health Program, Open Society Institute.
53. Srisanit PL (2011) Effective legal and practical measures for combating corruption. Resource Material Series No. 83. Tokyo: United Nations Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFEI). pp. 167–171.
54. United Nations Human Rights Council (2011) National report submitted in accordance with paragraph 15 (a) of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1: Thailand. UN Doc. A/HRC/WG.6/12/THA/1. Geneva: United Nations Human Rights Council. Available: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/PAGES/THSession12.aspx. Accessed 8 September 2013.
55. United Nations Human Rights Council (2011) Summary prepared by the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in accordance with paragraph 15 (c) of the annex to Human Rights Council resolution 5/1: Thailand. UN Doc. A/HRC/WG.6/12/THA/3. Geneva: United Nations Human Rights Council. Available: http://www.ohchr.org/EN/HRBodies/UPR/PAGES/THSession12.aspx. Accessed 8 September 2013.
56. CseteJ, CohenJ (2010) Health benefits of legal services for criminalized populations: the case of people who use drugs, sex workers and sexual and gender minorities. J Law Med Ethics 38: 816–831.
57. JardineM, CroftsN, MonaghanG, MorrowM (2012) Harm reduction and law enforcement in Vietnam: influences on street policing. Harm Reduct J 9: 27.
58. Rosmarin A, Eastwood N (2012) A quiet revolution: drug decriminalisation policies in practice across the globe. London: Release.
59. HughesCE, StevensA (2010) What can we learn from the Portuguese decriminalization of illicit drugs? Br J Criminol 50: 999–1022.
60. Reynolds LA (2005) Historical aspects of drugs-of-abuse testing in the United States. Wong RC, Tse HY, editors. Drugs of abuse: body fluid testing. Totowa, NJ: Humana Press Inc. pp. 1–10.
61. Wong AYF (2005) Drugs-of-abuse testing: the European perspective. Wong RC, Tse HY, editors. Drugs of abuse: body fluid testing. Totowa, NJ: Humana Press Inc. pp. 259–270.
62. Verstraete AG (2005) The results of the roadside drug testing assessment project. Wong RC, Tse HY, editors. Drugs of abuse: body fluid testing. Totowa, NJ: Humana Press Inc. pp. 271–292.
63. Moeller M, Steinmyer S, Aberl F (1999) Operational, user and legal requirements across EU member states for roadside drug testing equipment. Available: http://www.rosita.org/docs/rosita_d3.doc. Accessed 8 September 2013.
Štítky
Interné lekárstvoČlánok vyšiel v časopise
PLOS Medicine
2013 Číslo 12
- Parazitičtí červi v terapii Crohnovy choroby a dalších zánětlivých autoimunitních onemocnění
- Pleiotropní účinky statinů na kardiovaskulární systém
- Statiny indukovaná myopatie: Jak na diferenciální diagnostiku?
- Zástava srdce u pacienta se střelnými ranami – kazuistika
- Statinová intolerance
Najčítanejšie v tomto čísle
- Artemisinin Combination Therapy: A Good Antimalarial, but Is the Dose Right?
- Circulating Mitochondrial DNA in Patients in the ICU as a Marker of Mortality: Derivation and Validation
- Timing and Completeness of Trial Results Posted at ClinicalTrials.gov and Published in Journals
- Malaria and Severe Anemia: Thinking beyond