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Stakeholder perspectives on the (dys)function of a four pillars drug strategy

Bibliographic Data

ID14907720
AuthorsAlissa Greer (0000-0002-8702-5694, Simon Fraser University, corresponding author), Naomi Zakimi (0000-0003-3582-3261, Simon Fraser University), A Ritter (0000-0001-9540-1920, UNSW Sydney)
Year2024
Volume130
Pages104538
Publication date2024-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Drug Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0955-3959 • E-ISSN: 1873-4758
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104538
PMID39033646
OpenAlexW4400841943
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited19

A 'drug strategy' is a policy document that structures the priorities and directions for interventions for drug related issues within a particular jurisdiction and/or context. A 'pillars' drug strategy concentrates efforts through clustering separated columns of activity, such as law enforcement, harm reduction, treatment, and prevention. In this study, we examined drug policy stakeholders' perspectives on the structure, function, and fit of a four pillar drug strategy framework in Vancouver, Canada. Utilizing qualitative interview data from fifteen drug policy stakeholders, we examine perspectives on Vancouver's four pillar drug strategy that was implemented over 20 years ago. Our findings are organized under three main themes: (1) the notion of 'balance' of efforts, resources, and attention across the pillars; (2) how the pillars function as a cohesive whole; (3) whether the pillars' architecture is still fit-for-purpose. The architecture of four discrete pillars did not enable a sense of cohesion and collaboration of efforts, and instead elicited a sense of competition, conflict, fragmentation, simplicity, and rigidity of the strategy as a whole. These findings suggest that, in practice, a four pillars framework may be structurally dysfunctional in working towards a common goal. Our study questions the effectiveness of a commonly used 'pillars' framework and whether it needs to be reenvisaged

Business · Cohesion (chemistry · Context (archaeology · Harm reduction · Jurisdiction · Law and economics · Law enforcement · Political science · Psychological intervention · Public relations · Sociology · Stakeholder · Community Health and Development · Health Policy Implementation Science · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · Law · Medicine

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Unique citing works3
Citations per year3
Citation span2025 - 2026 (2)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 3
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