Uso di sostanze nei contesti di divertimento Strategie metodologiche e di collaborazione con i servizi di Riduzione del Danno

Abstract

This paper focuses on a research consultancy developed in collaboration
with harm reduction services. At first, ethnographers were asked to map and analyze
tendencies and patterns of recreational drug use within different types of contexts
(clubs, free parties, festivals, pubs, etc.) located in eight Italian territories. But, almost
immediately, the negotiation with the sponsor brought researchers to include also an
analysis of the relationship between services and “consumers”. Due to limited funds
and time available to carry out the consultancy, and considering the heterogeneity of
fieldwork, ethnographers had to look for alternative ways to reach and include a higher
number of substance consumers. To face this challenging field researchers developed
creative, unusual strategies and (perhaps unorthodox) methods. The outcome of the
consultancy permitted us to analyze the peculiar methodologies characterizing harm
reduction services and their relationship with consumers. Furthermore, the researchers
managed to capture some features of the consumers’ strategies and habits within loisir
contexts. Despite the limits of the chosen research strategies, the partnership revealed
interesting perspectives on harm reduction for both operators and ethnographers.