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Cited by 19HIV, Drug Use, Sexual RiskPolicing Practices and PerceptionsCriminal Justice and Corrections Analysis

Police victimization among persons who inject drugs along the U.S.-Mexico border

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Pinedo, Miguel, Burgos, José Luis, Zúñiga, María Luisa, Perez, Ramona, Macera, Caroline A., Ojeda, Victoria D.·2015·Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs
DOI 10.15288/jsad.2015.76.758PMC PMC4714826
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Problematic policing practices are an important driver of HIV infection among persons who inject drugs (PWID) in the U.S.-Mexico border region. This study identifies factors associated with recent (i.e., past 6 months) police victimization (e.g., extortion, physical and sexual violence) in the border city of Tijuana, Mexico. METHOD: From 2011 to 2013, 733 PWID (62% male) were recruited in Tijuana and completed a structured questionnaire. Eligible participants were age 18 years or older, injected illicit drugs within the past month, and spoke Spanish or English. Multivariable logistic regression analyses identified correlates of recent experiences of police victimization (e.g., bribes, unlawful confiscation, physical and sexual violence). RESULTS: Overall, 56% of PWID reported a recent police victimization experience in Tijuana. In multivariable logistic regression analyses, factors independently associated with recent police victimization included recent injection of methamphetamine (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.62; 95% CI [1.18, 2.21]) and recently received injection assistance by a "hit doctor" (AOR = 1.56; 95% CI [1.03, 2.36]). Increased years lived in Tijuana (AOR = 0.98 per year; 95% CI [0.97, 0.99]) and initiating drug use at a later age (AOR = 0.96 per year; 95% CI [0.92, 0.99]) were inversely associated with recent police victimization. CONCLUSIONS: Physical drugusing markers may increase PWID susceptibility to police targeting and contribute to experiences of victimization. Interventions aimed at reducing police victimization events in the U.S.-Mexico border region should consider PWID's drug-using behaviors. Reducing problematic policing practices may be a crucial public health strategy to reduce HIV risk among PWID in this region.

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  • The well-being of migrants post-deportation has been examined in some diverse contexts, though the longitudinal and reciprocal relationships with their U.S.-based families have not received attention.

    “The well-being of migrants post-deportation has been examined in some diverse contexts (9, 18, 57–61) though the longitudinal and reciprocal relationships with their U.S.-based families have not received attention.”

    From Deported Men's and Father's Perspective: The Impacts of Family Separation on Children and Families in the U.S. (2020) · cites this paper as [60]

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
Pinedo, M., Burgos, J. L., Zúñiga, M. L., Perez, R., Macera, C. A., & Ojeda, V. D.
Affiliations
  • University of California, Berkeley (US)
  • San Diego State University (US)
  • Department of Anthropology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California
  • University of California San Diego (US)
Corresponding author
Ojeda, Victoria D.
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs
Publisher
Alcohol Research Documentation, Inc.
Published
2015-09
Volume
76
Issue
5
Pages
758-763
ISSN
  • 1937-1888 (ISSN-L)
  • 1938-4114
DOI
10.15288/jsad.2015.76.758
PMC
PMC4714826
OpenAlex
W2161852750
Cited by
19
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 3
FWCI
2.09
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5k01da025504-05)
  • National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (P50AA005595, T32AA007240)
  • National Institute of Mental Health (K01MH095680)
  • National Institute on Drug Abuse (K01-DA025504, R37DA019829, R37DA019829-S1)
  • Fogarty International Center (R25TW009343, D43TW008633)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Policing Practices and Perceptions
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Criminal Justice and Corrections Analysis
Keywords
people who inject drugs, HIV risk, methamphetamine use, extortion, police brutality, Tijuana, U.S.-Mexico border, years of residence
MeSH terms
Adult, Female, Humans, Male, Mexico, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Public Health, Surveys and Questionnaires, United States, HIV Infections, Substance Abuse, Intravenous, Odds Ratio, Police, Crime Victims, Substance-Related Disorders

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