“I'm a Health Nut!” Street Drug Users' Accounts of Self-Care Strategies

Abstract

This qualitative study analyzes data from in-depth interviews to describe self-care strategies among chronic and injecting drug users. While the types of strategies varied from participant to participant, the theme of proactive self-care remained strong throughout the data. Researchers identified five self-care domains discussed by the study participants. The self-care domains include strategies to improve nutrition, increase physical activity, address medical concerns, regulate substance use, and reduce sexual risk. Overall, these data indicate that chronic drug users are actively involved in managing and improving their health and attempt to take self-protective actions, even while continuing to engage in active drug use. These findings are particularly relevant for primary care providers, walk-in clinics, drug treatment programs, outreach workers and those engaged in harm reduction efforts. Recognizing that drug users are actively involved in taking care of their health can be an important strategy to build into any intervention or risk reduction program.

Managing Mental Health Problems in Everyday Life: Drug Treatment Clients’ Self-Care Strategies

“…The findings suggest that drug treatment clients report very similar self-care strategies to illicit drug users and general population samples (Boeri et al 2006;Drumm et al 2005;Duterte et al 2001;Hansson et al 2005).…”

“…Although problems with illicit drug dependence can be protracted and drug treatment clients commonly report high levels of comorbid physical and mental health conditions (Anglin and Hser 1990;Callaly et al 2001;Hser et al 1997;Teesson et al 2000), there is little or no research on what drug treatment clients do to promote or maintain their health outside of clinical settings. This means that "there is little research identifying specific health-promoting strategies among drug users that treatment specialists may use to improve overall intervention plans" (p. 610, Drumm et al 2005). …”

“…A study of injecting drug users focused exclusively on the self-care strategies employed by participants to maintain or promote wellbeing (Drumm et al 2005). These included maintaining a healthy diet and fluid intake, exercise, using over-the-counter medications, home remedies, practicing safe sex, and using harm reduction strategies to moderate the effects of alcohol and other drugs.…”

Penser et percevoir autrement les personnes qui font usage de drogues par injection

“…Il faut dépasser les catégorisations simplistes et réductrices des individus et reconnaître la coexistence des apparences contraires au sein de la « réalité » constitutive de la personne. Par exemple, le « souci de soi » et de son devenir peut coexister avec une conduite toxicomaniaque (Drumm, McBride, Metsch, Neufeld et Sawatsky, 2005 ;Meylachs, Friedman, Mateu-Gelabert, Sandoval et Meylachs, 2015 ;Olsen, Banwell, Dance et Maher, 2012). Ces dimensions, comme il a été exposé, ont également toutes leurs limites et leurs potentiels de dérives.…”

“…Nous croyons cependant qu'il est plus juste de s'inspirer des derniers travaux de Foucault sur le gouvernement des vivants voulant que les gens se conforment à des règles et normes sociales alors qu'ils n'en sont pas contraints par la force (Foucault, 1983). Les études démontrent en effet que les personnes vont également adhérer à des messages de santé publique, parce qu'elles se soucient effectivement de leur santé et de leur bien-être, qu'elles veulent se protéger des méfaits et des souffrances morales, physiques et sociales, et qu'elles adhèrent aussi aux valeurs centrales que sont l'autoresponsabilisation et l'autonomie (Drumm, McBride, Metsch, Neufeld et Sawatsky, 2005 ;Meylakhs, Friedman, Mateu-Gelabert, Sandoval et Meylakhs, 2015 ;Olsen, Banwell, Dance et Maher, 2012).…”