Naming the sites of the opioid crisis in Boston: a political issue

This paper analyses the various toponyms of an open drug use scene in Boston, located at the interface of three neighbourhoods – Newmarket, Dudley-Roxbury, and South End, – with diverse uses and dynamics. The reactions and demands of the residents of these different neighbourhoods reveal the power d...

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Main Author: Elsa Vivant
Format: Article
Language:fra
Published: Pôle de Recherche pour l'Organisation et la diffusion de l'Information Géographique 2021-04-01
Series:EchoGéo
Subjects:
Online Access:https://journals.openedition.org/echogeo/21369
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author Elsa Vivant
author_facet Elsa Vivant
author_sort Elsa Vivant
collection DOAJ
description This paper analyses the various toponyms of an open drug use scene in Boston, located at the interface of three neighbourhoods – Newmarket, Dudley-Roxbury, and South End, – with diverse uses and dynamics. The reactions and demands of the residents of these different neighbourhoods reveal the power dynamics in the urban space, the toponymic choices of which are the main focus of this analysis: Mass & Cass refers to the urban, colonial and racial history of the city and prohibition; Methadone Mile brings to mind the stigmatization of users and places of care; Recovery Road expresses the emergence of new care and harm reduction practices at work in this sector. Entering this scene by way of these names helps to unravel the complexity of the opioid crisis currently underway in the USA, the political stakes involved, and the changes it is driving in drug policy.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1963-1197
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publisher Pôle de Recherche pour l'Organisation et la diffusion de l'Information Géographique
record_format Article
series EchoGéo
spelling doaj-art-c691ab31016d4111bbb53b7248e8f8422025-01-30T12:45:37ZfraPôle de Recherche pour l'Organisation et la diffusion de l'Information GéographiqueEchoGéo1963-11972021-04-015310.4000/echogeo.21369Naming the sites of the opioid crisis in Boston: a political issueElsa VivantThis paper analyses the various toponyms of an open drug use scene in Boston, located at the interface of three neighbourhoods – Newmarket, Dudley-Roxbury, and South End, – with diverse uses and dynamics. The reactions and demands of the residents of these different neighbourhoods reveal the power dynamics in the urban space, the toponymic choices of which are the main focus of this analysis: Mass & Cass refers to the urban, colonial and racial history of the city and prohibition; Methadone Mile brings to mind the stigmatization of users and places of care; Recovery Road expresses the emergence of new care and harm reduction practices at work in this sector. Entering this scene by way of these names helps to unravel the complexity of the opioid crisis currently underway in the USA, the political stakes involved, and the changes it is driving in drug policy.https://journals.openedition.org/echogeo/21369Bostonopioidoverdoseopen drug scenesocio-spatial dynamics
spellingShingle Elsa Vivant
Naming the sites of the opioid crisis in Boston: a political issue
EchoGéo
Boston
opioid
overdose
open drug scene
socio-spatial dynamics
title Naming the sites of the opioid crisis in Boston: a political issue
title_full Naming the sites of the opioid crisis in Boston: a political issue
title_fullStr Naming the sites of the opioid crisis in Boston: a political issue
title_full_unstemmed Naming the sites of the opioid crisis in Boston: a political issue
title_short Naming the sites of the opioid crisis in Boston: a political issue
title_sort naming the sites of the opioid crisis in boston a political issue
topic Boston
opioid
overdose
open drug scene
socio-spatial dynamics
url https://journals.openedition.org/echogeo/21369
work_keys_str_mv AT elsavivant namingthesitesoftheopioidcrisisinbostonapoliticalissue