NCJ Number
43148
Editor(s)
R S WEPPNER
Date Published
1977
Length
288 pages
Annotation
USING CULTURAL DESCRIPTIONS TO STUDY THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DRUG USE AND CRIME PROVIDES VALUABLE DATA. TECHNIQUES FOR SUCH RESEARCH, THE LEGAL AND ETHICAL PROBLEMS INVOLVED, AND TWO ACTUAL STUDIES ARE PRESENTED.
Abstract
THESE PAPERS ARE THE OUTGROWTH OF A WORKSHOP ON ETHNOGRAPHEC FIELD RESEARCH TO STUDY DRUG ABUSE SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE. ETHNOGRAPHY, PREVIOUSLY LIMITED TO DESCRIPTIONS OF EXOTIC TRIBES, IS IDEALLY SUITED TO GIVING A COMPLETE VIEW OF DRUG USE, CRIME COMMITTED AS A RESULT OF DRUG USE, AND REASONS BEHIND ADDICTION. PAPERS DISCUSS INTERVIEW TECHNIQUES DEVELOPED FROM TALKING WITH PROFESSIONAL PICKPOCKETS AND RESIDENTS OF SLUM HOTELS, USE OF INDIGENOUS OBSERVERS AS INFORMANTS AND TO CORRECT THE DATA (MONEY IS OF MORE USE TO THEM THAN 'UNDYING GRATITUDE'), AND PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN FOLLOWING COMPLEX STREET NETWORKS. THE ADVANTAGES OF INTERVIEWING IN AN INSTITUTION VERSUS ON -THE-STREET ARE DISCUSSED. LEGAL ISSUES INVOLVED IN WATCHING PURCHASES OF DRUGS OR CONCEALING INFORMATION ABOUT OFFENDERS ARE RAISED. THE ETHICAL ISSUES INVOLVED IN USING LIFE STORIES ARE CONSIDERED; A TYPE OF 'INFORMED CONSENT' IS ADVISED IF SUCH STORIES ARE TO BE USED IN ANY DETAIL. TWO ACTUAL DESCRIPTIVE STUDIES ARE INCLUDED: 'METHADONE, WINE, AND WELFARE', CONDUCTED IN NEW YORK CITY, AND A NEIGHBORHOOD HISTORY OF DRUG SWITCHING, CONDUCTED IN AN UNNAMED AREA.