A HEROIN DEALING NETWORK: ASYMMETRIC POWER & HIV RISK

本研究探讨了海洛因经销商，他的客户，并由此产生的艾滋病毒风险行为的背景下，一个多层次的海洛因交易网络之间的关系。 自从HIV出现以来，应用药物研究的主要重点一直是了解个体药物注射者的风险行为。注射行为已被定性描述，量化，并已开发出创新的干预模式，以解决艾滋病毒的风险。 较少注意致力于研究环境，政治和经济背景下，用户生活和消费毒品。 本提案处理了这些专题之间的脱节问题。 本研究将以族群志的方法，在个案研究的架构下，检视位于科罗拉多丹佛市的一个多层级海洛因交易网络的组织结构与商业运作。 除了了解非法药物市场如何运作，本研究的结果将检查海洛因交易对艾滋病毒注射风险行为的影响，在一个多层次的海洛因交易网络中固有的不对称权力关系。具体而言，该提案有两个目的：一是了解和记录海洛因经销商与其客户（即使用者）在多层次海洛因经销网络内的经济和社会交流。 二是调查海洛因交易活动中的吸毒行为和HIV感染风险。

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.