Becoming vulnerable: Young women's accounts of initiation to injecting drug use

Martin, Fiona

doi:10.3109/16066351003611653

Cited by 34 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Friends (41, 44, 47, 48, 50, 51, 55, 56, 60, 68, 70, 73, 77), family (41, 43, 44, 51, 52, 55, 68, 70–73), intimate partners (42, 48, 49, 52, 57, 59, 60, 64, 68, 70–72, 77), acquaintances (37, 43, 77), gang members (63), elders (65) and drug dealers (41, 42) were all described as influential. Different types of social interactions shaped injection initiation.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Women reported injection initiation as a result of efforts to secure intimate partnerships (52, 59, 70, 71) and develop and demonstrate trust and intimacy within relationships (49, 59, 71): “I didn’t even think that I would use, never. We just did it anyway, just to show him that I trust him more than anybody” (Woman, 23 years old, Australia (49)).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The experience of initiating injection drug use and its social context: a qualitative systematic review and thematic synthesis

et al. 2017

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Background and aim Understanding the experience of initiating injection drug use and its social contexts is crucial to inform efforts to prevent transitions into this mode of drug consumption and support harm reduction. We systematically reviewed and synthesized existing qualitative scientific literature to identify the socio-structural contexts for, and experiences of, the initiation of injection drug use. Methods We systematically searched six databases (Medline, Embase, PsychINFO, CINAHL, IBSS, and SSCI), along with a manual search, including of key journals and subject experts. Peer-reviewed studies were included if they qualitatively explored experiences of or socio-structural contexts for injection drug use initiation. A thematic synthesis approach was used to identify descriptive and analytical themes across studies. Results From 1731 initial results, 41 studies reporting data from 1996 participants were included. We developed eight descriptive themes and two analytical (higher order) themes. The first analytical theme focused on injecting initiation resulting from a social process enabled and constrained by socio-structural factors: social networks and individual interactions, socialization into drug-using identities, and choices enabled and constrained by social context all combine to produce processes of injection initiation. The second analytical theme addressed pathways that explore varying meanings attached to injection initiation and how they link to social context: seeking pleasure, responses to increasing tolerance to drugs, securing belonging and identity, and coping with pain and trauma. Conclusions Qualitative research shows that injection drug use initiation has varying and distinct meanings for individuals involved and is a dynamic process shaped by social and structural factors. Interventions should therefore respond to the socio-structural influences on injecting drug use initiation by seeking to modify the contexts for initiation, rather than solely prioritizing the reduction of individual harms through behavior change.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The experience of initiating injection drug use and its social context: a qualitative systematic review and thematic synthesis

et al. 2017

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“…More recent work has focused on the social and environmental factors that influence the initiation of new injectors, including the influence of family members, peers and sexual partners (Neaigus, Gyarmathy, Miller, Frajzyngier, Friedman, et al, 2006; Abelson, Treloar, Crawford, Kippax, van Beek, et al, 2006; Harocopos, Goldsamt, Kobrak, Jost, & Clatts, 2009; Goldsamt, Harocopos, Kobrak, Jost, & Clatts, 2010). One of the major findings to emerge from this work is the importance of gender differences and roles in drug injection initiation that reflect the dynamics of intimate relationships and that place women, in particular, at increased risk for viral transmission (Ouellet, Rahimian & Wiebel, 1998; Rhodes & Quirk, 1998; Abelson, et al, 2006; Diaz, Vlahov, Edwards, Conover, & Monterroso, 2002; Barnard, 1993; MacRae & Aalto, 2000; Sherman, Smith, Laney, & Strathdee, 2002; Bryant & Treloar, 2007; Martin, 2010). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Numerous studies report that the transition to injection drug use among women stems largely from a desire to increase commitment and intimacy within a romantic partnership (Barnard, 1993; MacRea & Aalto, 2000; Sherman et al, 2002; Bryant & Treloar, 2007; Bourgois & Schonberg, 2009; Martin, 2010). As Sherman et al, (2002) state, regarding the women in their study (all of whom transitioned to injecting with their male partners): “Sharing the experience of injecting was a way to be a part of the single largest focus of their boyfriends’ lives” (p. 116).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This practice has been interpreted by MacRea & Aalto (2000) as “deference” to the expertise of the male partner. While this appears to be the norm, more recent research (Byrant & Treloar, 2007; Martin, 2010) has found instances of women IDUs divesting themselves of these gendered practices and showing other women how to inject, sometimes in groups, or injecting themselves without assistance. Bryant & Treloar (2007) note that “young women are using new liberal ideas of equality and a ‘same as men’ sensibility to gain a sense of feminine identity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Retrospective accounts of injection initiation in intimate partnerships

Simmons

Rajan

McMahon

2012

International Journal of Drug Policy

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Background The influence of family members, peers and sexual partners on initiation to injection drug use is well established. Furthermore, research on gender differences in injection initiation has recognized the increased vulnerability of women, in particular, to injection-related health risks, and the gendered nature of the injection initiation experience. Yet more research is needed on the interpersonal and structural dynamics that shape injection initiation within intimate partnerships. Methods This paper draws on narrative data from semi-structured ethnographic interviews with 25, relatively stable, drug-using couples from two New York City neighborhoods. The study was conducted between 2007–2009. Our analyses focus on retrospective accounts of injection initiation from IDUs who were initiated to injection (or initiated their partners) in current or former intimate partnerships. In particular we analyze narratives of injection initiation events where both partners participated as initiates or initiators. Results Transition to injection within intimate partnerships was common, especially for women, and occurred in specific contexts. Structural and interpersonal dynamics, including the ubiquity of drugs in poor communities and the gendered nature of drug acquisition and use strategies, as well as the problem of increased drug tolerance, situational impediments to drug access, and the perceived cost-benefit of injecting, all influenced the process of initiation to injection drug use within couples. The data also suggest that, even when risks associated with injection initiation were understood, both pragmatic and emotional considerations within relationships tended to offset concerns about potential dangers. Conclusion The findings suggest the need for a broad range of interventions (including couples-focused interventions) to minimize rates of injection initiation within intimate partnerships.

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Intoxication, Gender and Sexuality

Thurnell‐Read

Monaghan²

2023

Intoxication

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Becoming vulnerable: Young women's accounts of initiation to injecting drug use

Cited by 34 publications

References 54 publications

The experience of initiating injection drug use and its social context: a qualitative systematic review and thematic synthesis

The experience of initiating injection drug use and its social context: a qualitative systematic review and thematic synthesis

Retrospective accounts of injection initiation in intimate partnerships

Intoxication, Gender and Sexuality

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