The Qollab team has published an article titled "Photographic arts-based methods in substance use research: A scoping review", in the International Journal of Qualitative Methods.
Thisscoping reviewexplores the use ofphotographic arts-based methodsin the field of substance use.
The article highlights the findings of a systematic review of scientific literature published since 2000. It demonstrates how photography (such as photovoice or photo-elicitation) is used to document the realities of people who use substances, promote their empowerment , and support advocacy and social transformation.
The analysis covers 60 scientific articles identified across several databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Google Scholar). The study examined researchers' objectives, participant-reported benefits, as well as the methodological, ethical, and practical challenges specific to these visual and participatory methods.
Key findings show that:
- An accessible and humanizing means of expression: Photography offers an alternative to traditional verbal approaches, allowing participants to convey complex, embodied, or stigmatized lived experiences while deconstructing dominant narratives around substance use.
- Therapeutic and community impact: The process fosters critical reflection, self-esteem, a sense of belonging, and the creation of safe, non-judgmental spaces for marginalized individuals.
- Ethical and methodological tensions: Using photography in a substance use context can raise major issues surrounding informed consent, confidentiality, physical and psychosocial safety, and the risk of voyeurism or image decontextualization.
- Underutilization of knowledge mobilization: Although these visual methods carry strong potential for raising awareness, very few studies outlined concrete strategies for sharing these findings with policymakers and the general public.