The Necessity of Explaining Legal Considerations and Formulating Law Enforcement Interventions With an Approach of Reducing Health and Social Harms in Iran’s Drug Scenes: A Qualitative Study

Objectives The objective of this study was to examine legal considerations and law enforcement interventions from the perspective of experts, which are needed to manage or reduce health and social harms related to open drug scenes (ODS). Methods This study was qualitative and was conducted using the content analysis method with a purposeful sampling method in Tehran City, Iran, in 2023. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 key informants, including 5 treatment and harm reduction service providers, 4 police officers, 2 lawyers, and 2 judges, until saturation was reached. The data were analyzed using MAXQDA software, version 10, and the validity of the data was confirmed based on the Koch criteria. Results The characteristics of ODS, tailored to the specific conditions of Iran, were among the most significant findings. According to most experts, efforts to eliminate these ODS were deemed costly, unnecessary, or even impossible. Therefore, they advocated for the scientific management of these locations to reduce health, social, and security-related harms. The main reasons for opposing the elimination of drug-related hotspots as a national strategy were primarily linked to the consequences of implementing Article 16 of the Anti-narcotics Law. Conclusion There are two main approaches regarding the existence of material ODS. The first is to review the security, social, and health interventions in these places, and the other is to confront and destroy these places. Experience shows that the strategy of confronting and destroying ODS does not help eliminate them, but leads to the relocation of ODS, which increases security and health damages and becomes uncontrollable.