A HEROIN DEALING NETWORK: ASYMMETRIC POWER & HIV RISK

本研究在一个多层次的海洛因交易网络的背景下，调查了海洛因经销商、他的客户和由此产生的艾滋病毒危险行为之间的关系。自从艾滋病毒出现以来，应用药物研究的一个主要重点就是了解个体吸毒者的危险行为。已经对注射行为进行了定性描述和量化，并开发了创新的干预模式来应对艾滋病毒风险。对吸毒者生活和消费毒品的环境、政治和经济背景的研究较少。这项提议解决了这些主题之间的脱节问题。这项研究将在案例研究框架内使用人种学方法，研究科罗拉多州丹佛市一个多层次海洛因交易网络的组织结构和商业运作。除了了解非法毒品市场是如何运作的，这项研究的结果还将审查海洛因交易对多层次海洛因交易网络中固有的不对称权力关系中的艾滋病毒注射风险行为的影响。具体地说，这项建议的目的有两个：第一，在一个多层次的海洛因交易网络内，了解和记录海洛因经销商及其客户(即吸毒者)之间的经济和社会交换。第二，调查海洛因交易活动和交易导致的吸毒行为和HIV风险。

This study investigates the relationship between a heroin dealer, his customers, and resulting HIV risk behaviors within the context of a multi-level heroin-dealing network. Since the advent of HIV, a primary emphasis of applied drug research has been understanding individual drug injector's risk behavior. Injection behaviors have been qualitatively described, quantified, and innovative intervention models have been developed to address HIV risks. Less attention has been devoted to research on the environmental, political, and economic contexts in which users live and consume drugs. This proposal addresses the disjunction between these topics. Using ethnographic methods within a case study framework, this research will examine the organizational structure and business operation of a multi-level heroin-dealing network in Denver, Colorado. In addition to understanding how the illicit drug market works, the findings of this research will examine the influence of heroin dealing on HIV injection risk behaviors within asymmetric power relations inherent in a multi-level heroin dealing network. Specifically, the aims of this proposal are twofold: One, to understand and document economic and social exchange between heroin dealers and their customers (i.e. users), within a multi- level heroin-dealing network. And two, to investigate the drug injection behaviors and HIV risk which result from heroin dealing activities and transactions.