An institutional ethnography of prevention and treatment services for substance use disorders in the Dominican Republic

ABSTRACT

The Dominican Republic is thought to have significant epidemics of illicit drug use but lacks surveillance and formal analyses of the policy context of drug prevention and treatment services. We conducted an institutional ethnography of 15 drug service organisations in Santo Domingo and Boca Chica, Dominican Republic, to explore barriers and resources for drug abuse prevention and treatment. Here, we present a typology of drug service organisations based on their services, methods, and approach. We then draw on interviews with representatives of drug service institutions to describe the primary barriers to drug treatment and prevention services for drug users. We conclude with a focus on the policy priorities that could improve the conditions of health care for marginalised drug users in the Dominican Republic.

KEYWORDS:

• Dominican Republic
• drug service organisations
• institutional ethnography
• drug users
• drug policy

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA) (Grant # 1 R01 DA031581). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of NIDA or the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Nelson Varas Díaz is also included in this study via NIDA support from grant 1K02DA035122.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) [Grant number # 1 R01 DA031581, PI: Mark Padilla], and by a NIDA award for Nelson Varas-Díaz [Grant number # 1K02DA035122].