title: Collective empowerment while creating knowledge: a description of a community-based participatory research project with drug users in Bangkok, Thailand.
abstract: In light of growing concerns regarding the ongoing drug war in Thailand and a lack of support for people who inject drugs in this setting, in 2008, we undertook a community-based participatory research project involving a community of active drug users at a peer-run drop-in center in Bangkok. This case study describes a unique research partnership developed between academic and active drug users and demonstrates that participatory approaches can help empower this vulnerable population while generating valid research. Further research is needed to explore ways of optimizing community-based participatory research methods when applied to drug-using populations.
authors.affiliation: Urban Health Research Initiative, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: Kanna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fairbairn
authors.forename: Paisan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Suwannawong
authors.forename: Karyn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: Evan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kerr
mesh_terms: D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055030:Drug Users; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D011209:Power, Psychological; D016730:Program Development; D013785:Thailand