How understanding and application of drug-related legal instruments affects harm reduction interventions in Cambodia: a qualitative study
Abstract Background Harm reduction interventions in Cambodia face numerous obstacles because of conflicting understanding and interests and inconsistencies in the implementation by law enforcement officials. This study aims to examine how understanding and application of Drug Control Law (DCL) and V...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2017-06-01
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| Series: | Harm Reduction Journal |
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| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12954-017-0167-9 |
| _version_ | 1824033718619078656 |
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| author | Sovannary Tuot Chanrith Ngin Khuondyla Pal Sochenda Sou Ghazal Sawez Phylicia Morgan Mony Srey Tola Chan Pheak Chhoun Olga Golichenko Sok Chamreun Choub Siyan Yi |
| author_facet | Sovannary Tuot Chanrith Ngin Khuondyla Pal Sochenda Sou Ghazal Sawez Phylicia Morgan Mony Srey Tola Chan Pheak Chhoun Olga Golichenko Sok Chamreun Choub Siyan Yi |
| author_sort | Sovannary Tuot |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Harm reduction interventions in Cambodia face numerous obstacles because of conflicting understanding and interests and inconsistencies in the implementation by law enforcement officials. This study aims to examine how understanding and application of Drug Control Law (DCL) and Village/Commune Safety Policy (VCSP) affects harm reduction interventions in Cambodia from the standpoints of law enforcement officials, people who inject drugs and people who use drugs (PWID/PWUD), as well as other key stakeholders. Methods This qualitative study was conducted in the capital city of Phnom Penh in 2015. We held five focus group discussions (FGDs) with groups of PWID/PWUD, police officers, Sangkat/commune officers, and local non-governmental organization (NGO) field staff. We also conducted ten key informant interviews (KIIs) with representatives from government agencies, donor agencies, and NGOs. FGDs and KIIs with Cambodian participants were transcribed in Khmer and translated into English. KIIs with foreign participants were transcribed in English. Transcripts were read and re-read to identify emerging themes, which were reviewed and refined to develop common and divergent patterns. Results There was a huge gap between what the DCL and VCSP say and how law enforcement officers and PWID/PWUD understood them. The gap was also evident in how law enforcement officers implemented the DCL and VCSP. Harm reduction services, including health- and non-health-related interventions, were limited and challenged by unsupportive attitudes, misinterpretation of the DCL and VCSP, and the lack of full engagement with NGOs in the development of these instruments. The needs of PWID/PWUD in accessing health care services were not met due to misconduct of authorities while practicing the DCL and VCSP. Further, the misconduct and enforcement of the law and policy lead to increased social discrimination and physical abuses against PWID/PWUD. Conclusions There is a lack of common understanding of the drug-related law and policy and their implications to harm reduction services among both law enforcement officers and PWID/PWUD. Thus, there is a need to mainstream and simplify the law and policy for better comprehension among these actors. To improve the quality and coverage of harm reduction interventions, the gap of understanding and enforcement of laws and policies should be narrowed, and coordination between the government and NGOs and other key stakeholders should be strengthened. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T10:12:49Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6b85272af4af406494c106bacbed12b0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1477-7517 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T10:12:49Z |
| publishDate | 2017-06-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Harm Reduction Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-6b85272af4af406494c106bacbed12b02022-12-21T18:29:49ZengBMCHarm Reduction Journal1477-75172017-06-0114111310.1186/s12954-017-0167-9How understanding and application of drug-related legal instruments affects harm reduction interventions in Cambodia: a qualitative studySovannary Tuot0Chanrith Ngin1Khuondyla Pal2Sochenda Sou3Ghazal Sawez4Phylicia Morgan5Mony Srey6Tola Chan7Pheak Chhoun8Olga Golichenko9Sok Chamreun Choub10Siyan Yi11KHANA Center for Population Health ResearchKHANA Center for Population Health ResearchKHANA Center for Population Health ResearchAsia Actions for Harm Reduction, KHANAPublic Health Program, Touro University CaliforniaPublic Health Program, Touro University CaliforniaKHANA Center for Population Health ResearchRoyal University of Phnom PenhKHANA Center for Population Health ResearchInternational HIV/AIDS AllianceKHANAKHANA Center for Population Health ResearchAbstract Background Harm reduction interventions in Cambodia face numerous obstacles because of conflicting understanding and interests and inconsistencies in the implementation by law enforcement officials. This study aims to examine how understanding and application of Drug Control Law (DCL) and Village/Commune Safety Policy (VCSP) affects harm reduction interventions in Cambodia from the standpoints of law enforcement officials, people who inject drugs and people who use drugs (PWID/PWUD), as well as other key stakeholders. Methods This qualitative study was conducted in the capital city of Phnom Penh in 2015. We held five focus group discussions (FGDs) with groups of PWID/PWUD, police officers, Sangkat/commune officers, and local non-governmental organization (NGO) field staff. We also conducted ten key informant interviews (KIIs) with representatives from government agencies, donor agencies, and NGOs. FGDs and KIIs with Cambodian participants were transcribed in Khmer and translated into English. KIIs with foreign participants were transcribed in English. Transcripts were read and re-read to identify emerging themes, which were reviewed and refined to develop common and divergent patterns. Results There was a huge gap between what the DCL and VCSP say and how law enforcement officers and PWID/PWUD understood them. The gap was also evident in how law enforcement officers implemented the DCL and VCSP. Harm reduction services, including health- and non-health-related interventions, were limited and challenged by unsupportive attitudes, misinterpretation of the DCL and VCSP, and the lack of full engagement with NGOs in the development of these instruments. The needs of PWID/PWUD in accessing health care services were not met due to misconduct of authorities while practicing the DCL and VCSP. Further, the misconduct and enforcement of the law and policy lead to increased social discrimination and physical abuses against PWID/PWUD. Conclusions There is a lack of common understanding of the drug-related law and policy and their implications to harm reduction services among both law enforcement officers and PWID/PWUD. Thus, there is a need to mainstream and simplify the law and policy for better comprehension among these actors. To improve the quality and coverage of harm reduction interventions, the gap of understanding and enforcement of laws and policies should be narrowed, and coordination between the government and NGOs and other key stakeholders should be strengthened.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12954-017-0167-9Harm reductionLaw and policy applicationDrug law and policyQualitative studyCambodia |
| spellingShingle | Sovannary Tuot Chanrith Ngin Khuondyla Pal Sochenda Sou Ghazal Sawez Phylicia Morgan Mony Srey Tola Chan Pheak Chhoun Olga Golichenko Sok Chamreun Choub Siyan Yi How understanding and application of drug-related legal instruments affects harm reduction interventions in Cambodia: a qualitative study Harm Reduction Journal Harm reduction Law and policy application Drug law and policy Qualitative study Cambodia |
| title | How understanding and application of drug-related legal instruments affects harm reduction interventions in Cambodia: a qualitative study |
| title_full | How understanding and application of drug-related legal instruments affects harm reduction interventions in Cambodia: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | How understanding and application of drug-related legal instruments affects harm reduction interventions in Cambodia: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | How understanding and application of drug-related legal instruments affects harm reduction interventions in Cambodia: a qualitative study |
| title_short | How understanding and application of drug-related legal instruments affects harm reduction interventions in Cambodia: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | how understanding and application of drug related legal instruments affects harm reduction interventions in cambodia a qualitative study |
| topic | Harm reduction Law and policy application Drug law and policy Qualitative study Cambodia |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12954-017-0167-9 |
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