Paper short abstract:

This study draws on Shobita Parthasarathy’s idea of architecture as a sensitizing concept to approach buprenorphine distribution as a heterogeneous techno-institutional assemblage that cannot be fully understood without knowledge of the complex local history about opium and its derivatives in Taiwan.

Paper long abstract:

Buprenorphine is an effective medication used in many parts of the world for the treatment of opioid-dependent individuals. Research has been conducted to examine the risk of and reasons for its diversion, that is, use of this drug by people who do not own the prescription. However, none of these studies have been conducted in East Asia, and a satisfactory integrative theoretical framework that addresses the condition of buprenorphine distribution, if not diversion, is yet to be established. This study draws on Shobita Parthasarathy's idea of architecture as a sensitizing concept to approach buprenorphine distribution as a heterogeneous techno-institutional assemblage that cannot be fully understood without knowledge of the complex local history about opium and its derivatives in Taiwan. By analyzing archival data and in-depth interviews, this article delineates the technological aspect of the architecture as involving pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and the science of similarity. This article also discusses the institutional aspect of the architecture, which comprises partitioned governance, insurance exclusion, and commercial interests. The two aspects are entangled; thus, the ways that buprenorphine is known, used, and circulated are variable and often locally specific. This article, by providing a case study that examines the conditions of existence and movement of controlled substances, offers social scientists and policy makers insights for future work.