Ethnographies of youth drug use in Asia

Hardon, Anita; Hymans, Takeo David

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2014.06.009

Cited by 10 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…The study was conducted over a period of 12 months between December 2011 and September 2013, as part of the Chemical Youth Project (https://chemicalyouth.org/), a broader study that looked at the role of chemicals in the everyday lives of young people (see Hardon & Hymans, 2014). Ethical approval for my research was obtained from the institutional ethics review board of the University of the Philippines’ College of Social Science and Philosophy.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Today, there is widespread recognition that drug use is “lived” in radically different geographic, economic, social, legal, and pharmacological contexts. In Southeast Asia, one common theme is the “utilitarian effect” of methamphetamine (Sherman et al, 2008)—that is, its usefulness in the performance of various economic tasks (Cohen, 2014; Dixon et al, 2015; Hardon & Hymans, 2014; Lasco, 2014).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Call Boys

Lasco

2017

Contemporary Drug Problems

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Marginalized young men are a familiar presence in the areas surrounding Philippine ports, selling food and refreshments to the thousands of passengers who come through daily. A closer look, however, reveals that they engage in many other activities as they participate in an informal economy where income opportunities skirt the boundaries between licit and illicit. One job many of them engage in is sex work: as "call boys," they offer their sexual services to male clients. Many of them also use drugs, particularly shabu (methamphetamine). This article examines the relationship between sex work and drug use and situates it in the everyday lives of young men. The researcher conducted in-depth interviews and focus group discussions among 20 males aged 18-25 years old, and over a period of 12 months, "hung out" with them, observing their activities, and listening to their conversations. This ethnographic study, conducted 3 years before a violent "war on drugs" began to waged in the country, argues that the young men view drug use and sex work as pragmatic choices in their everyday economic lives. Drug use and sex work are also linked to their notions of masculinity and are fraught with risks and unintended consequences that they often overlook-even as they have their own notions of safety and risk. Understanding the intersections between sex work and drug use in relation to young people's "local moral worlds" and gender ideologies can help craft more effective drug policies in the Philippines.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Lasco

2017

Contemporary Drug Problems

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“…Previous research using ethnography to study adolescent substance use has focused primarily on understanding adolescent attitudes and behaviors towards drug use [36][37][38][39].. Cyber-ethnography remains rare as an approach for studying substance use. One previous study examined alcohol consumption [40], and no studies have examined drug use.…”

Section: Cyber-ethnographymentioning

confidence: 99%

Cyber-ethnography of cannabis marketing on social media

Jenkins¹,

Kelly²,

Binger³

et al. 2021

Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy

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Background Since 2012, several states have legalized non-medical cannabis, and cannabis businesses have used social media as a primary form of marketing. There are concerns that social media cannabis exposure may reach underage viewers. Our objective was to identify how cannabis businesses cultivate an online presence and exert influence that may reach youth. Methods We chose a cyber-ethnographic approach to explore cannabis retailers on social media. We searched cannabis retailers with Facebook and Instagram presence from Alaska, Oregon, Colorado, and Washington, and identified 28 social media business profiles. One year of content was evaluated from each profile. In-depth, observational field notes were collected from researchers immersed in data collection on business profiles. Field notes were analyzed to uncover common themes associated with social media cannabis marketing. Results A total of 14 businesses were evaluated across both Facebook and Instagram, resulting in 14 sets of combined field notes. A major theme was Normalization of Cannabis, involving both Broad Appeal and Specific Targeting. Conclusions It is concerning that Normalization of Cannabis by cannabis businesses may increase cannabis acceptability among youth. In a digital world where the majority of youth are spending time online, it is important for policymakers to examine additional restrictions for cannabis businesses marketing through social media.

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“…But an anthropological research agenda should also cover other drugs of concern like cannabis, MDMA (ecstasy), and nalbuphine hydrochloride (an injected drug prevalent on the island of Cebu that is associated with high HIV infection rates), among others, especially in light of the reports that shabu users are turning to other drugs because of the drug war (see for example Bunachita 2016). Furthermore, the work of Anita Hardon and colleagues in the ChemicalYouth Project shows that instead of categorizing drugs as, for example, 'illegal', 'narcotics', 'medicines', and so on, it is often more useful to look at 'chemicals' more broadly and consider how and why people use them (Hardon and Hymans 2014;Dalisay 2015). And so the broader project must include 'legal addictions' like alcohol and nicotine, 'traditional' narcotics like betel nut and various fermented beverages, and comparative study of these various substances and their interactions.…”

Section: Ethnography and Beyond: What Anthropologists Can Domentioning

confidence: 99%

‘They might mistake you for an “informant”’

Lasco¹

2018

MAT

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This article is a reflection on doing anthropology in the Philippines amid the government's punitive antidrug campaign and on the impact of ethnographic research on public discourses on drugs. Using my own ethnographic research as a starting point, I outline how a journal article I published about the lived experiences of young men who use drugs took on renewed significance years later, in a different policy regime. I then outline a research agenda for the anthropology of drug use in the country. Despite the ethical, methodological, and personal challenges of drug-related research, the potential to give voice to 'hidden populations' and argue for humane, evidenced-based policies should encourage anthropologists and other social scientists to persevere.

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Ethnographies of youth drug use in Asia

Cited by 10 publications

References 37 publications

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Cyber-ethnography of cannabis marketing on social media

‘They might mistake you for an “informant”’

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