Kammersgaard, Tobias and Kappel, Nanna and Johansen, Katrine Schepelern and Kronbæk, Mette and Fahnøe, Kristian Relsted and Houborg, Esben (2024) 'It has gotten a lot better, but it is still bad': experiences with the police among marginalized PWUDs in a context of depenalization. International Journal of Drug Policy, 127, 104393. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104393.
External website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/...
Based on a survey (n = 249) and qualitative interviews (n = 38) with marginalized people who use drugs (PWUDs) in Copenhagen, Denmark, we investigate the experiences of this group with the police in a context where drug possession had been depenalized in and around drug consumption rooms (DCRs). Our findings point to positive experiences with the police, especially with the local community police in the depenalization zone, who refrained from drug law enforcement and practiced 'harm reduction policing.' However, marginalized PWUDs also reported that they were still targeted for drug possession by other sections of the police despite the depenalization policy. Specifically, the drug squad of the police would continue to confiscate illicit drugs for investigatory purposes to counter organized drug crime, as well as continue to target user-dealers who were not formally included in the depenalization policy. The findings illustrate how marginalized PWUDs still found themselves in a precarious legal situation without any legal rights to possess the drugs that they were dependent on, even though possession of drugs had been depenalized in and around DCRs.
J Health care, prevention, harm reduction and treatment > Harm reduction > Substance use harm reduction
L Social psychology and related concepts > Physical context, location or place > Safe spaces (injecting facilities / centre / consumption rooms)
MM-MO Crime and law > Justice system > Community anti-crime or assistance programme > Community policing / police
MM-MO Crime and law > Justice system > Justice / enforcement agency > Police (Garda)
MP-MR Policy, planning, economics, work and social services > Policy > Policy on substance use > Drug decriminalisation or legalisation policy
T Demographic characteristics > Person who uses substances (user / experience)
VA Geographic area > Europe > Denmark
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