A qualitative comparison of how people who use drugs’ perceptions and experiences of policing affect supervised consumption services access in two cities

Original research
par
Urbanik, M., Maier, K., & Greene, C.

Date de publication

2022

Géographie

Canada

Langue de la ressource

English

Texte disponible en version intégrale

Non

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

Non

Évalué par des pairs

Yes

L’objectif

This study aims to understanding the complexities of relations between police and people who use drugs (PWUD) near Supervised Consumption Services (SCS).

Constatations/points à retenir

Participants in Calgary reported concentrated police presence in and near SCS, in addition to harassment, negative encounters, fears about getting arrested, and experiences of being displaced from the area. Participants in Edmonton, despite also reporting heavy police presence near SCS, reported feeling relatively safe from police intervention and harassment, within SCS and the surrounding area.

Rather than the presence/absence and quantity of policing near SCS, our findings show that the quality of policing experienced in the community shapes PWUD’ perceptions, experiences, and willingness to access SCS.

La conception ou méthodologie de recherche

We report findings from a larger qualitative study on PWUD’s experiences with SCS in two Canadian cities. Data were collected through 75 face-to-face interviews and observations with street-involved PWUD near local SCS in Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta.

Mots clés

About PWUD
Advocacy
Harm reduction
Legal system/law enforcement
SCS/OPS