Applied Approach
The applied approach of medical anthropology is when the knowledge gained through an anthropological viewpoint is used in determining effective treatment for an illness that affects a certain population.
Without globalization, the United States would be cut off from many of it’s favorite illicit drugs. Massive amounts of opium and heroin come from Afghanistan, cocaine from Columbia and even marijuana from Canada. Meanwhile pharmaceutical companies are selling their products to manufacturers outside of the United States for consumption around the world.
One of the most controversial practices when it comes to substance dependence is harm reduction. Harm reduction is a critical and applied anthropological theory that postulates that it is more beneficial to society as a whole to reduce the risk factors associated with someone’s substance abuse than by ignoring a substance abuser completely.
Vancouver is home to the only “safe injection site” in North America. InSite is a clinic where intravenous drug users are provided with new, clean needles and private rooms for the user to ingest their drugs in. There are also medical staff ready to respond immediately in the event of an overdose.
Participants in Kerr’s 2006 study said that InSite offered them treatment for overdose that they wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else. For example, one patient claimed that if they had overdosed on the street it would have been hours before they would have been noticed as an overdose. Users also felt that in InSite they could take their time in administering their drugs and didn’t feel rushed or anxious about being caught by police or mugged.
When it comes to deciding treatment or policy on a large scale, an anthropologist’s perspective is invaluable. Common practice when it comes to substance dependence and abuse is practically archaic in the US currently. Part of this is due to the dichotomy of good vs. bad. Illegal drugs are seen as bad, no matter what. Because of this, anything treatment or intervention that aids someone addicted to drugs is also seen as morally wrong. While there has only been one safe injecting site opened in North America so the sample size is small, harm reduction facilities have done well in other areas (such as in England) and need to be given the appropriate consideration as they can reduce economic burden and most importantly, save lives.
A medical anthropologist can offer an unparalleled level of compassion and understanding to a physician or government official. Anthropologists find common themes and symbols from stories of everyday life and connect them to concrete interactions that occur in society.
Bibliography
Kerr, Thomas, Will Small, David Moore, and Evan Wood. "A micro-environmental intervention to reduce the harms associated with drug-related overdose: Evidence from the evaluation of Vancouver’s safer injection facility." International Journal of Drug Policy. (2007): 37-45.
The applied approach of medical anthropology is when the knowledge gained through an anthropological viewpoint is used in determining effective treatment for an illness that affects a certain population.
Without globalization, the United States would be cut off from many of it’s favorite illicit drugs. Massive amounts of opium and heroin come from Afghanistan, cocaine from Columbia and even marijuana from Canada. Meanwhile pharmaceutical companies are selling their products to manufacturers outside of the United States for consumption around the world.
One of the most controversial practices when it comes to substance dependence is harm reduction. Harm reduction is a critical and applied anthropological theory that postulates that it is more beneficial to society as a whole to reduce the risk factors associated with someone’s substance abuse than by ignoring a substance abuser completely.
Vancouver is home to the only “safe injection site” in North America. InSite is a clinic where intravenous drug users are provided with new, clean needles and private rooms for the user to ingest their drugs in. There are also medical staff ready to respond immediately in the event of an overdose.
Participants in Kerr’s 2006 study said that InSite offered them treatment for overdose that they wouldn’t have gotten anywhere else. For example, one patient claimed that if they had overdosed on the street it would have been hours before they would have been noticed as an overdose. Users also felt that in InSite they could take their time in administering their drugs and didn’t feel rushed or anxious about being caught by police or mugged.
When it comes to deciding treatment or policy on a large scale, an anthropologist’s perspective is invaluable. Common practice when it comes to substance dependence and abuse is practically archaic in the US currently. Part of this is due to the dichotomy of good vs. bad. Illegal drugs are seen as bad, no matter what. Because of this, anything treatment or intervention that aids someone addicted to drugs is also seen as morally wrong. While there has only been one safe injecting site opened in North America so the sample size is small, harm reduction facilities have done well in other areas (such as in England) and need to be given the appropriate consideration as they can reduce economic burden and most importantly, save lives.
A medical anthropologist can offer an unparalleled level of compassion and understanding to a physician or government official. Anthropologists find common themes and symbols from stories of everyday life and connect them to concrete interactions that occur in society.
Bibliography
Kerr, Thomas, Will Small, David Moore, and Evan Wood. "A micro-environmental intervention to reduce the harms associated with drug-related overdose: Evidence from the evaluation of Vancouver’s safer injection facility." International Journal of Drug Policy. (2007): 37-45.