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"Somebody Is Gonna Be Hurt": Involuntary Drug Treatment in Mexico

Claudia Rafful1, María Elena Medina-Mora2, Patricia González-Zúñiga3

  • 1Faculty of Psychology, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico.

Medical Anthropology
|May 18, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Involuntary drug treatment is ineffective and often provided by non-professional programs. This study highlights the need to center the health, human rights, and security of people who inject drugs in global health policies.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Drug Policy
  • Human Rights

Background:

  • Involuntary drug treatment (IDT) is widely practiced despite evidence of its ineffectiveness in reducing drug use.
  • Mexico faces a shortage of professional residential drug treatment facilities, leading to reliance on non-evidence-based programs for both voluntary and involuntary treatment.
  • Federally funded police operations in Tijuana have resulted in the involuntary placement of people who inject drugs (PWID) into these centers.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the experiences of people who inject drugs subjected to involuntary drug treatment in Tijuana.
  • To inform drug policies by emphasizing the health, wellbeing, human rights, dignity, and security of PWID.
  • To advocate for the integration of PWID support into universal healthcare systems.

Main Methods:

  • Qualitative study exploring the lived experiences of PWID in Tijuana.
  • Analysis of experiences within drug centers accessed via a federally funded police operation.
  • Focus on health, human rights, dignity, and security outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Involuntary drug treatment centers in Tijuana are often non-professional and non-evidence-based.
  • PWID undergoing IDT face risks to their health, wellbeing, human rights, dignity, and security.
  • Current practices fall short of international human rights standards for healthcare.

Conclusions:

  • Involuntary drug treatment is an ineffective and potentially harmful approach to drug use.
  • Drug policies must prioritize the health, human rights, and security of people who inject drugs.
  • Integrating PWID into universal healthcare systems is crucial for effective and ethical drug treatment.
Keywords:
Mexicoderechos humanosdisciplinary powerhuman rightsinvoluntary drug treatmentpeople who inject drugspersonas que se inyectan drogaspoder disciplinariotratamiento de drogas involuntario

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