"Somebody Is Gonna Be Hurt": Involuntary Drug Treatment in Mexico. Issue 2 (17th February 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rafful, Claudia; Medina-Mora, María Elena; González-Zúñiga, Patricia; Jenkins, Janis H.; Rangel, M. Gudelia; Strathdee, Steffanie A.; Davidson, Peter J.
• Is Part Of: Medical anthropology. Volume 39:Issue 2(2020)
• Page Start: 139
• Page End: 152
• Publication Date: 2020-02-17
• Subjects: Mexico -- disciplinary power -- human rights -- involuntary drug treatment -- people who inject drugs; Mexico -- poder disciplinario -- derechos humanos -- tratamiento de drogas involuntario -- personas que se inyectan drogas; Medical anthropology -- Periodicals; 362.1
• DOI: 10.1080/01459740.2019.1609470
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0145-9740

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Involuntary drug treatment (IDT) is ineffective in decreasing drug use, yet it is a common practice. In Mexico, there are not enough professional residential drug treatment programs, and both voluntary and involuntary drug treatment is often provided by non-evidence based, non-professional programs. We studied the experiences of people who inject drugs (PWID) in Tijuana who were taken involuntarily to drug centers under the auspices of a federally funded police operation. We provide insight into how the health, wellbeing, human rights, dignity, and security of PWID ought to be at the center of international drug policies included in universal health care systems.