Fluorescent Blue Lights, Injecting Drug Use and Related Health Risk in Public Conveniences: Findings from a Qualitative Study of Micro-Injecting Environments.

Parkin, Stephen and Coomber , Ross (2010) Fluorescent Blue Lights, Injecting Drug Use and Related Health Risk in Public Conveniences: Findings from a Qualitative Study of Micro-Injecting Environments. Health and Place, 16 (4). pp. 629-637. ISSN 1353-8292

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Abstract

This paper presents findings relating to injecting drug users’ experiences and opinions of public toilets illuminated with fluorescent blue lights and presents an empirical assessment of the intended deterrent effect of such installations. These findings were obtained from qualitative research located in the south west of England concerning the effects of place on health risk with a sample of 31 drug users with recent experience of ‘public’ injecting.

Data analysis identified that blue lights deterred less than half the sample interviewed. Furthermore over half (18/31; 58%) of the sample were prepared to inject in conditions specifically designed to deter injecting practice. Of these, 11 respondents were completely undeterred and a further 7 individuals were only partially deterred by blue light environments.

These findings are discussed within the interpretative frameworks of Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of habitus and symbolic violence. The authors conclude that fluorescent blue lights contribute towards the development of situated resistance by injecting drug users within a public injecting habitus; a resistance that produces and reproduces drug-related harm and is behaviour that opposes the symbolic violence of harm reduction intervention. The paper concludes with suggestions for theory-driven practical intervention that may seek to disrupt the harmful elements of the public injecting habitus.

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