Early warnings and slow deaths: A sociology of outbreak and overdose

Original research
by
Rhodes, Tim & Kari Lancaster

Release Date

2023

Geography

International

Language of Resource

English

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

Yes

Peer Reviewed

Yes

Findings/Key points

In this paper, we offer a sociological analysis of early warning and outbreak in the field of drug policy, focusing on opioid overdose. We trace how ‘outbreak’ is enacted as a rupturing event which enables rapid reflex responses of precautionary control, based largely on short-term and proximal early warning indicators. We make the case for an alternative view of early warning and outbreak.

Keywords

Overdose
Policy/Regulatory