Diké. Social conditioning factors in the health and lifestyle of hidden populations with addiction problems
Year:
2023
Funded by:
Main Objective:
The primary objective of the programme is to generate knowledge in three key areas: the analysis of health and lifestyle conditioning factors, the hidden drug-dependent population, and the development of insights into social and healthcare provision, as well as the evaluation of good practices. The DIKÉ programme addresses the extreme marginalisation faced by tens of thousands of drug addicts, aiming to improve their social and health conditions, reduce addiction-centred lifestyles, and deliver healthcare adapted to their needs and circumstances. The programme is further justified by the lack of sufficient knowledge in Spain regarding the hidden population of drug addicts, particularly women.
Summary:
The Diké programme, “Social Conditioning Factors in the Health and Lifestyle of Hidden Populations with Addiction Problems”, developed by Episteme Social, is funded by the Ministry of Social Rights and Agenda 2030 through grants allocated to entities undertaking activities of general social interest, financed via the IRPF tax allocation.
The programme will be implemented across seven Autonomous Communities: Andalusia, Aragón, Catalonia, the Community of Madrid, the Community of Valencia, the Principality of Asturias, and the Region of Murcia. This broad geographic scope enables a comparative analysis of the unique needs presented in each territory.
Among the programme’s main findings, Diké emphasises the urgent need to integrate a gender perspective into care programmes for particularly invisible drug-dependent populations. These include female users involved in sex work out of necessity, drug-dependent women of Gypsy ethnicity, and gay men experiencing exclusion and engaging in chemsex.
The programme focuses on analysing good practices to generate socially valuable knowledge for professionals working in social and healthcare support for drug addicts. Diké’s ultimate goals are:
- The production of a final report summarising the analysis and key findings.
- The development of a gender-sensitive protocol accessible to healthcare providers, enabling them to tailor treatments to the specific needs of women and hidden populations.
- The publication of two scientific articles addressing current issues related to the study’s principal findings.
The participation of both hidden populations and professionals in the field of drug addiction is a cornerstone of this study, ensuring a grounded understanding of the realities these groups face. Diké exemplifies Episteme’s commitment to social research aimed at enhancing public policies through scientific, democratic, and transparent approaches.
Keywords:
Gender perspective, ethnic minorities, chemsex, sex workers, drug addiction.
