The Study of Risk Society Theory on Drug Problems
-
- Honda Koji
- Graduate School of Sociology, Ritsumeikan University
Bibliographic Information
- Other Title
-
- ドラッグ問題に対するリスク社会論的考察
- ドラッグ問題に対するリスク社会論的考察--ハーム・リダクション政策の権力構造を焦点として
- ドラッグ モンダイ ニ タイスル リスク シャカイロンテキ コウサツ ハーム リダクション セイサク ノ ケンリョク コウゾウ オ ショウテン ト シテ
- ハーム・リダクション政策の権力構造を焦点として
- Focus on the Power Structure in Harm-Reduction Policy
Search this article
Abstract
An unfamiliar drug policy known as "harm-reduction" has gained prominence among some European countries. This policy was developed in response to the HIV-virus epidemic in the 1980's. Under the harm-reduction policy, drug-abstinence is not regarded as an absolute requirement for the treatment of drug addicts. This new approach is designed, instead, to protect public order and safety, and the user's health from secondary harm collateral to drug use. The approach is characterized as a low-threshold treatment program. Low-threshold treatment consists of "needle exchange programs," "heroin prescription," "supervised injection sites," etc. The author investigates some potential technologies which have decisive effects on the practice of low-threshold treatment. The paper addresses "enumeration" and "space" as technologies. "Enumeration" is a technology which converts individual drug users to statistically manipulated collective variables. "Space" is a technology which does not enforce strict regulation on "drugs" or "drug-users" severally, but rather exercises control over various factors, including "drugs" and "drug-users," at the point where they converge. This paper undertakes to clarify the mechanism of harm-reduction policy through understanding these technologies.
Journal
-
- Japanese Journal of Sociological Criminology
-
Japanese Journal of Sociological Criminology 31 (0), 88-100, 2006
Japanese Association of Sociological Criminology