Behavioural Patterns of Drug Users In Highland

In March of 2000 an experienced researcher spent a week investigating the areas of Inverness, Easter Ross and Nairn. Although the areas to be included were mainly urban rather than rural it was considered that, due to size and local topography, using a mobile interview unit might result in the same problems as those encountered in the earlier feasibility study in Fort William. It was therefore decided to adopt a technique which would protect client anonymity and at the same time provide the best chance of obtaining a large number of respondents, without alerting the general community.

The study fieldwork was carried out between November 2000 and May 2001. Respondents were drawn from both in-treatment and out-of-treatment settings throughout the Highland Region area. Recruiting the out-of-treatment sample in areas such as those within Highland Region presented many challenges, particularly given the short time period in which to collect the data. Some of the methodological problems are discussed more fully below.

Respondents were recruited in two ways. First, with the help of drug treatment workers, drug injectors attending for treatment throughout the area were approached by the researcher or project staff and asked to take part in the survey. Interviews were carried out within rooms provided by the project or by an appointment agreed with the respondent to meet at another location.

Secondly, within the four districts under study - Inverness, Easter Ross, Nairn and Fort William - initial contacts were recruited on the street by the researcher or by introduction from project workers. Once initial contact had been made these drug injectors were asked to provide further access to other injectors or to ask them to make contact with the researcher. Interviews were conducted in respondents’ homes or in a car at discrete locations.

Suspicion of the research was one of the most difficult problems to overcome. In Inverness this was heightened by a recent undercover operation conducted by the police in the few months preceding the fieldwork.

Resistance to the research was also encountered and presented the researcher with further problems throughout the fieldwork period. In Nairn it was difficult to make progress into the drug using community even after initial suspicion had been relieved. Reportedly, this resistance was due to the attitude of local dealers who did not wish there to be any cooperation by users with the study.

Another recruitment problem was caused by seasonal holidays and weather. Heavy snowfalls along with the Christmas and New Year holiday period caused a break of nearly three weeks which effectively split the study into two. This resulted in a loss of momentum and meant that more effort had to be put into regaining contact with the community. In addition, some of the researcher’s main contacts had attempted to give up their drug use as a New Year resolution and had removed themselves from contact with the rest of the drug using population, thus new contacts had to be found.