Police crackdowns, structural violence and impact on the well-being of street cannabis users in a Nigerian city

Nelson, Ediomo‐Ubong E.

doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2018.01.012

Cited by 40 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 57 publications

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“…Relatedly, cannabis attracts widespread stigma, and its regulation is often draconic (Dirisu et al, 2019). Again, the dominant discourse surrounding drug use in Nigeria has largely been "problem-oriented"; thus, cannabis continues to be prohibited and regulated through punitive measures (Nelson, 2018). But despite the prevalent war on drugs by the government, the use of cannabis and other drugs in Nigeria continues to rise, suggesting the ineffectiveness of the government's approach (Dumbili et al, in press).…”

Section: Drug Use In Nigeriamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…But despite the prevalent war on drugs by the government, the use of cannabis and other drugs in Nigeria continues to rise, suggesting the ineffectiveness of the government's approach (Dumbili et al, in press). Again, the war on drugs encourages structural violence against cannabis users (Nelson, 2018) and hampers harm reduction. Given the legalization of cannabis in some countries (Pardo, 2014), many other countries are beginning to rethink their cannabis laws, and these developments may be contributing to cannabis normalization in Nigeria and how Nigerians (users and nonusers) view cannabis use.…”

Section: Drug Use In Nigeriamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Cannabis Normalization Among Young Adults in a Nigerian City

Dumbili

2020

Journal of Drug Issues

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Drug normalization has been researched extensively in the West. Yet, we know little about how drug use is normalized in non-Western contexts. Drawing on interviews with young adults, this study is the first to explore illicit drug normalization in Nigeria. Cannabis was widely available and easy to access and students were part of the supply chain. Citing therapeutic and functional benefits, participants normalized cannabis consumption, using it to prepare soup, noodles, and birthday cakes. Unlike women, who may give up cannabis use due to stigmatization and marriage, men had no plans to stop its use. Gender determined drug-taking practices and social accommodation of drug users, suggesting differentiated normalization. Men who used cannabis were accommodated by their peers, unlike women, who were stigmatized by female non-users. In general, the findings highlight a shift in illicit drug use practices and noticeable gendered and differentiated social accommodation among peers, although cultural acceptance of illegal recreational drugs remains at the margin.

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Section: Drug Use In Nigeriamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Drug Use In Nigeriamentioning

confidence: 99%

Cannabis Normalization Among Young Adults in a Nigerian City

Dumbili

2020

Journal of Drug Issues

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“…Also, the researchers used local media reports on police crackdowns on some brothels and street corners in Ilorin to locate and identify five places. Thus, the purposive sampling method was used to select five street hot spots and nine brothels (Nelson, 2018).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The rigorous assessment of the coded transcripts in term of the similarities and differences indicated links between codes that defined themes. In addition, verbatim remarks are used to demonstrate participants’ viewpoints on key themes (Nelson, 2018).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Police Crackdowns, Human Rights Abuses, and Sex Work Industry in Nigeria: Evidence From an Empirical Investigation

Salihu

Fawole

2020

International Criminal Justice Review

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This study undertook a qualitative investigation into police crackdowns as a form of operational control mechanism employed to suppress sex workers and sex work industry in Ilorin Emirate, Kwara State, Nigeria. The study employed a qualitative research method. One hundred and six female commercial sex workers (41 at street hot spots and 65 in brothels) participated. They were aged between 19 and 47 and selected through a variety of sampling methods including purposive, referral, and venue-based sampling methods. In-depth interview was the instrument used in data collection, and thematic data analysis was employed in analyzing the data. Results indicate that police crackdown is usually experienced by sex workers at street hot spots and in brothels and are often associated with brutality, human rights abuses, and extortion, which have negative impacts on the livelihoods and general well-being of sex workers. Sex workers devised some strategies to escape and avoid police arrests and abuses. Thus, crackdowns merely displace sex workers during intense restrictions but do not reduce sex work activities. Therefore, the study suggests a change in suppressive approach to an inclusive nonviolent method in reducing commercial sex work activities.

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“…A recent nation‐wide survey reported an estimated 10.6 million past year users, including over 1.2 million female users (United Nations Office on Drugs & Crime, 2019). Current research on cannabis use privileges male users (Dirisu et al, 2019; Dumbili, 2020; Nelson, 2018). Little is known about the cannabis use experiences of women, particularly street‐involved women.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Intersectional analysis of cannabis use, stigma and health among marginalized Nigerian women

Nelson

2021

Sociology Health & Illness

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Cannabis use by women has been under‐researched, particularly use by marginalized women in developing societies. This article draws on qualitative research in Uyo, Nigeria, to explore how intersecting stigmas around social identity categories (e.g. gender, sex work) shapes cannabis use and contributes to health harms for marginalized women. Qualitative data were collected via in‐depth interviews with street‐involved female cannabis users, and transcribed, coded and analysed thematically. Initiation of cannabis use was influenced by social networks and sexual relationships. Heavy cannabis use enabled some women to perform alternative femininity thereby challenging the boundaries of appropriate gendered behaviour, while others were pressured by normative expectations to enact moderation according to traditional femininity. Recreational cannabis use overlapped with marginalized forms of use, including using heavily to cope with the mental health sequalae of gender‐based discriminations and structural inequities. Cannabis use attracted heightened stigma, operating as part of intersecting stigmatizing identities that adversely impacted mental health and wellbeing. Cannabis stigma does not exist in isolation from other social identity categories that shape women's lives. There exists a need to combat stigma through interventions that seek to mediate changes in gender relations, improve living conditions and access to health‐care services for marginalized women.

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Police crackdowns, structural violence and impact on the well-being of street cannabis users in a Nigerian city

Cited by 40 publications

References 57 publications

Cannabis Normalization Among Young Adults in a Nigerian City

Cannabis Normalization Among Young Adults in a Nigerian City

Police Crackdowns, Human Rights Abuses, and Sex Work Industry in Nigeria: Evidence From an Empirical Investigation

Intersectional analysis of cannabis use, stigma and health among marginalized Nigerian women

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