Perceptions of illicit drugs and drug users: myth-understandings and policy consequences

Coomber, Ross (1999) Perceptions of illicit drugs and drug users: myth-understandings and policy consequences. PhD thesis, University of Greenwich.

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Abstract

This submission to the University of Greenwich for a Ph.D. by published works is composed of ten peer-reviewed articles, five book chapters, and one journal editorial. The earliest publication is dated from 1992 while the two most recent articles have been formally accepted for publication and are to be published in the near future. The pieces, to aid coherence, are not arranged in strict chronological order but rather in an order best able to demonstrate coherence and theme. The central theme running through these published works relates to the ways that drugs, drug users, and the activities which surround them are often subject to exaggeration, distortion and untruths and that drug control policy, rather than being rationally based is often the result of fear, prejudice and unreason. The core of the submission, eight papers researching the dangerous adulteration of illicit drugs, reflects these issues strongly. An area almost untouched by social science prior to this research these papers represent an attempt to pull together a range of evidence to inform more fully about drug adulteration practices. A wide range of methods, including a relatively innovative approach to researching hard to reach groups via the Internet and World Wide Web were employed. Almost all of the findings are at odds with what is commonly and professionally (drugs field) assumed to happen as regards the adulteration/dilution of illicit drugs. The other contributions all reflect similar concerns but are focussed on other drug related areas. Each piece is preceded by a short contextualising introduction. The appendices include a complimentary unpublished paper on drug adulteration, the preface to one of two books to which I was sole editor, some shorter contributions to drug field publications which, whilst widely read are less academic in their tone and approach, and two publications which represent the culmination of earlier joint research on drug policy.

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