Implementing Mexico’s “Narcomenudeo” Drug Law Reform

A Mixed Methods Assessment of Early Experiences Among People Who Inject Drugs

Bibliographic Data

ID12811547
AuthorsLeo Beletsky (0000-0003-0726-0676, University of California San Diego, corresponding author), K D Wagner (0000-0002-8614-2004, University of California San Diego), Jaime Arredondo (University of California San Diego), Lawrence A Palinkas (0000-0003-0974-7330, University of California San Diego), Carlos Magis‐Rodríguez (0000-0001-5481-1253), Nicolette Kalic (University of California San Diego), Natasha Ludwig-Barron (0000-0002-0981-1550, University of California San Diego), Steffanie A Strathdee (0000-0002-7724-691X, University of California San Diego)
Year2015
Volume10
Issue4
Pages384-401
Publication date2015-03-21
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Mixed Methods Research (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1558-6898 • E-ISSN: 1558-6901
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/1558689815575862
OpenAlexW2316779137
LanguageEN
Citations received26
References cited47

In 2009, Mexico decriminalized small-scale drug possession, instituting drug treatment diversion in lieu of incarceration. To assess initial reform impact, our mixed methods study integrated a structured questionnaire with in-depth interviews assessing legal knowledge, police encounters, and risk behaviors among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Tijuana. Between 2010 and 2013, we recruited 737 adults; 32 participated in qualitative interviews. Only 11% reported being aware of the reform; virtually none experienced its operational components. Narratives underscored the law’s irrelevance to PWID; 699 (98%) saw police practice as generally inconsistent with formal law. Instead of treatment diversion, police encounters were associated with risk behaviors, including syringe sharing (odds ratio [OR] = 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.09-1.46) and polydrug use (OR = 2.11; 95% CI = 1.38-3.22). As drug policy reforms gain global momentum, ancillary structural interventions are needed to improve their public health benefit

Criminology · Drug · Injection drug use · Law reform · Odds · Odds ratio · Political science · Possession (linguistics · Psychiatry · Psychological intervention · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Crime, Illicit Activities, and Governance · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · Law · Medicine · Opioid Use Disorder Treatment · Psychology

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