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Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy
Published in: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research

Activism and scientific research: 20 years of community action by the Vancouver area network of drug users

Authors: Ehsan Jozaghi, Alissa M. Greer, Hugh Lampkin, Jane A. Buxton

Published in: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Over the past several decades, there have been numerous peer-reviewed articles written about people who use drugs (PWUDs) from the Downtown Eastside neighborhood of Vancouver, Canada. While individual researchers have engaged and acknowledged this population as participants and community partners in their work, there has been comparatively little attention given to the role of PWUDs and drug user organizations in directing, influencing, and shaping research agendas.

Methods

In this community-driven research, we examine 20 years of peer-reviewed studies, university theses, books, and reports that have been directed, influenced, and shaped by members of the activist organization the Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU). In this paper, we have summarized VANDU’s work based on different themes from each article.

Results

After applying the inclusion criteria to over 400 articles, 59 items containing peer-reviewed studies, books, and reports were included and three themes of topics researched or discussed were identified. Theme 1: ‘health needs’ of marginalized groups was found in 39% of articles, Theme 2: ‘evaluation of projects’ related to harm reduction in 19%, and Theme 3: ‘activism’ related work in 42%. Ninety-four percent of co-authors were from British Columbia and 44% of research was qualitative. Works that have been co-authored by VANDU’s members or acknowledged their participations created 628 citations. Moreover, their work has been accessed more than 149,600 times.

Conclusions

Peer-based, democratic harm reduction organizations are important partners in facilitating groundbreaking health and social research, and through research can advocate for the improved health and wellbeing of PWUDs and other marginalized groups in their community. This article also recommends that PWUDs should be more respectfully engaged and given appropriate credit for their contributions.
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Metadata
Title
Activism and scientific research: 20 years of community action by the Vancouver area network of drug users
Authors
Ehsan Jozaghi
Alissa M. Greer
Hugh Lampkin
Jane A. Buxton
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1747-597X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-018-0158-1

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