1. 2018 Postgraduate Research Symposium
“The Quest for Legitimacy” – Power, Performativity & “Drug User Representation” in High Level Drug Policy Settings
Annie Madden
Scientia PhD Candidate E:

2. Research Topic
This research will explore the concept and practice of “drug user representation” in high level drug policy settings.
‘High level’ is - drug policy contexts where strategic-level decision making occurs or can occur (Aust & internationally).
Includes - parliamentary drug summits and inquiries, ministerial- level advisory structures and UN commissions and sessions.
Will take up both epistemological questions re: nature of knowledge & evidence in drug policy context – there is other critical scholarship in this space.
And, raise ontopolitical concerns about ‘being’ and ‘doing’ drug user representation, the emergent political subjectivities shaped by these processes and power relations that produce them esp. context of ‘war on drugs’ policy approach.

3. Research Aims
To make a scholarly contribution to our understanding of both the theoretical underpinnings and the practice of drug user representation in high-level drug policy settings;
Potentially contribute to the development of new knowledge and new modes of engagement and practice; and
To give voice to that which is too often silent – the subjective experiences of people who use drugs in their efforts to shape and influence the policies that directly affect their lives and health.

4. Background to Research Topic
Personal and professional interest in topic and understanding of the need for further research;
Despite Australia’s leadership in DUO, increasing focus over past 10 years on the wider human rights issues and importance of peer engagement – there has been little critical scholarship in this area;
Past 10 years - growth in research re: consumer participation in drug treatment settings and other health service contexts (linked to broader consumer health) – but focus on service planning & delivery NOT drug user representation high level policy settings;
1 international systematic literature review on ‘Engagement of PWUD in Policy Development’ cited “major gaps in the current evidence base” and that “much of the work of DUOs remains untold”.
More recently ‘new sub-field of drug policy research’ has emerged - questioning the substantive assumptions that underpin much of the current thinking in relation to drugs policy incl. post-structuralist critiques.

5. Key Research Questions
Q.1 What is “drug user representation”?
Q.2 How is drug user representation understood and experienced by key stakeholders in high level drug policy settings?
Who is a drug user? Is there a ‘drug user identity’?
What is drug user representation and how is it enacted in policy and practice?
Is there a difference between drug user participation and drug user representation?
Who does drug user representation or gets to do it, and under what circumstances?
Where does drug user representation occur – in what settings? Are there gaps?
Who is typically ‘at the table’/involved? Are there absences?
What are the common policy topics/content areas and what’s not there?
Are there topics that are ‘off-limits’ or deemed as too controversial/too sensitive?
What does drug user representation do or produce?
How are the goals and aspirations of drug user representation decided? Who decides and by what process/s?

6. Study Design & Methodology
4-year multi-stage qualitative research study.
Stage 1: Mapping
Formative scoping phase of study;
Desk-based review of publicly available data/descriptive analysis with a focus on research question 1.
Stage 2: Data Collection & Analysis
Qualitative, semi-structured in-depth interviews n= 40-60;
Focus on research questions 1 & 2.
Stage 3: Iterative Design
Further exploration of drug user representation in specific high level drug policy contexts in light data/possible trial new mode.
4-year multi-stage qualitative research study utilising a narrative–based methodology underpinned by an interpretive epistemology which recognises the importance of researcher reflexivity due to my externsive personal involvement in drug user representation in high level policy settings within Australia and internationally.

7. Acknowledgements Supervisors: Funding:
Professor Carla Treloar - CSRH
Professor Alison Ritter -SPRC
Dr. Kari Lancaster – CSRH
Funding:
This Scientia PhD project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and UNSW.