A Narco-feminist Experiment in Participatory Research: The Place of Experiential Knowledge Relating to Drug Use in the Evaluation of Addiction Treatment and Harm Reduction Care Policies, from a Gender Perspective
Jauffret-Roustide, Marie
A Narco-feminist Experiment in Participatory Research: The Place of Experiential Knowledge Relating to Drug Use in the Evaluation of Addiction Treatment and Harm Reduction Care Policies, from a Gender Perspective - 2025.
16
This article describes a participatory research collaboration with the Polytoux group, a feminist collective of women who use drugs in Marseille. The methodology used is part of a narco-feminist approach that emphasises the inclusion of the affected individuals in the process of knowledge production. The narco-feminist perspective links drug use to political and social systems, shaped by gender and oppression dynamics. The individual narratives collected during interviews reveal intimate vulnerabilities related to drug use. These interviews highlight the negative discourses surrounding drug use in relation to gender norms, which can lead participants to avoid psychiatric and addiction treatment services. In contrast, collective narratives frame these experiences in a more political context, describing stigma as discrimination towards people who use drugs. The members of the Polytoux collective stress the need to eliminate this discrimination against people who use drugs within care settings, recognise that some people managing their disorders with other psychoactive substances may find prescribed psychotropic drugs unsuitable, and acknowledge the experiential knowledge of individuals seeking help for their addiction. Our research demonstrates that a narco-feminist approach fosters new forms of resistance against discrimination in healthcare environments. By sharing their experiences, this collective written approach can challenge discriminatory categorisations and the oppressive dynamics they face.
A Narco-feminist Experiment in Participatory Research: The Place of Experiential Knowledge Relating to Drug Use in the Evaluation of Addiction Treatment and Harm Reduction Care Policies, from a Gender Perspective - 2025.
16
This article describes a participatory research collaboration with the Polytoux group, a feminist collective of women who use drugs in Marseille. The methodology used is part of a narco-feminist approach that emphasises the inclusion of the affected individuals in the process of knowledge production. The narco-feminist perspective links drug use to political and social systems, shaped by gender and oppression dynamics. The individual narratives collected during interviews reveal intimate vulnerabilities related to drug use. These interviews highlight the negative discourses surrounding drug use in relation to gender norms, which can lead participants to avoid psychiatric and addiction treatment services. In contrast, collective narratives frame these experiences in a more political context, describing stigma as discrimination towards people who use drugs. The members of the Polytoux collective stress the need to eliminate this discrimination against people who use drugs within care settings, recognise that some people managing their disorders with other psychoactive substances may find prescribed psychotropic drugs unsuitable, and acknowledge the experiential knowledge of individuals seeking help for their addiction. Our research demonstrates that a narco-feminist approach fosters new forms of resistance against discrimination in healthcare environments. By sharing their experiences, this collective written approach can challenge discriminatory categorisations and the oppressive dynamics they face.
Réseaux sociaux