Contemporary Anthropological Perspectives on Drug Use

Dear Colleagues,

A growing body of evidence demonstrates that biomedical and criminological lenses are not sufficient to understand drug supply dynamics, as they often overlook the cultural contexts in which drug use occurs. Anthropological perspectives lend a cultural critique to the medicalisation, pathologisation, and criminalisation of people who use drugs by providing a comprehensive and culturally nuanced view of these phenomena. They contribute to shaping a more holistic and grounded understanding of how drug use is integrated into daily life and cultural practices by centralising the lived experiences, symbolic dimensions, and meanings attached to drug use and the unique traditions, needs, and challenges faced by different communities. Moreover, anthropological research has also demonstrated that some aspects of addictions can be affirmative, creative, and sustainable at the individual and community levels. For this reason, critique of these aspects helps deconstruct stigmatising narratives and promotes more inclusive, culturally competent, ethical, and effective interventions and models of care.

This Special Issue aims to cover various topics related to anthropological research and anthropological perspectives on drug use. The areas to be covered include, but are not limited to, gender perspectives, lived experiences of people who use drugs, social inequality, globalisation, migration, indigenous rights, culturally sensitive interventions, advocacy, and more.

We look forward to developing an issue that provides comprehensive insights into the cultural, social, symbolic, and historical dimensions of drug use, and raises greater awareness on the complex interplay between drug use and cultural contexts, contributing to more effective and culturally sensitive interventions.

Dr. Cristiana Vale Pires
Guest Editor

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• drug use
• drug policies
• anthropological perspectives
• gender perspectives
• culturally sensitive interventions
• cultural critique
• globalization