Distinguishing personal use of drugs from drug supply: Approaches and challenges

O'Reilly, Keelin; Kowalski, Michala; Barratt, Monica J.; Ritter, Alison

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2022.103653

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Likewise, laws around 'deemed supply' are also problematic. Evidence suggests that there is no way to differentiate whether a given quantity of drugs is for personal use or supply [4]. Most countries do not have 'deemed supply' laws [5,6].…”

Section: Drug Law Reformmentioning

confidence: 99%

A reflection on improving the lives of people who use and inject drugs

Steele

2024

Drug and Alcohol Review

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Section: Drug Law Reformmentioning

confidence: 99%

A reflection on improving the lives of people who use and inject drugs

Steele

2024

Drug and Alcohol Review

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“…This term has been developed in a Scottish context due to its being seen as a more acceptable term amongst a wide range of stakeholders involved in dialogue on the policing and legal challenges facing proposed DCS. Participants tended to interpret the concept of enhanced support zones in two distinct ways: as an arrangement based on limiting police presence in the vicinity of the service and/or limiting the scope of police stop and search in cases of suspected personal possession; or as an agreement to enable police not to charge someone for personal possession, below a threshold quantity [28,63], within a specified zone.…”

Section: Policing the Areas Surrounding A Dcsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges for drug checking services in Scotland: a qualitative exploration of police perceptions

et al. 2022

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Background The impact of policing practices on the engagement of people who use drugs (PWUD) with harm reduction services is well evidenced. Although the police have traditionally taken an enforcement role in responding to drug use, it is increasingly clear that they can play an important part in multiagency delivery of harm reduction interventions. Despite this, there have been no studies exploring police officer perceptions of drug checking services (DCS), which provide analytical testing of client drug samples alongside harm reduction support and advice. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 police officers to explore the policing and legal challenges which could be encountered in the delivery of DCS in Scotland. Results Participants expressed general support for DCS and described this support as part of a wider organisational shift towards public health-oriented policing. Participants also discussed different potential approaches to the policing of areas surrounding DCS including: formal limits on police presence around the service and/or stop and search powers in relation to personal possession; the effective decriminalisation of personal possession within a specified boundary around the service; and informal agreements between local divisions and DCS outlining expected policing practices. Any formal limitation on the capacity of police officers to respond to community concerns was viewed as problematic and as having the potential to erode public confidence in policing. Participants also highlighted the potential for frontline officers to utilise discretion in ways which could undermine public health goals. Legislative change, or national strategic guidance from relevant stakeholders, was seen as a means of providing ‘cover’, enabling local divisions to support the operation of drug checking. Conclusions Despite a small sample of participants, this study summarises key challenges to be addressed in the implementation and operation of DCS in Scotland, and more widely. The paper concludes with suggested opportunities to develop approaches to policing that can facilitate rather than impede implementation and operation of these services.

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Thresholds: First gradually, then suddenly?

Manderson

2022

International Journal of Drug Policy

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Distinguishing personal use of drugs from drug supply: Approaches and challenges

Cited by 6 publications

References 11 publications

A reflection on improving the lives of people who use and inject drugs

A reflection on improving the lives of people who use and inject drugs

Challenges for drug checking services in Scotland: a qualitative exploration of police perceptions

Thresholds: First gradually, then suddenly?

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