Marginality among older injectors in today's illicit drug culture: assessing the impact of ageing

Abstract

Our respondents' experiences draw attention to the need to refine the field's theoretical and practical understandings of what it means to be marginal and its consequences for older drug users and people in general. The results also point to what happens when society changes but some of its members do not.

Factors Associated With Illegal Drug Use Among Older Methadone Clients

“…Previous studies on HIV concerns for injection drug users over the age of 50 have been funded by the National Institute on Aging and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (Anderson & Levy, 2003;Auberbach, 2003). SAMHSA studies (2002) that examined drug use in people over the age of 50 identified the relationship between aging, drug use, and future treatment needs.…”

Aging and HIV Infection

“…Chronic drug use may lead to an increased risk of hepatitis C-induced liver disease, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, mental health problems, bacterial infections, and trauma. [22][23][24][25] Substance abuse and psychiatric disorders frequently coexist; in a sample of 2864 HIV-infected adults receiving care in the United States, 47.9% screened positive for a psychiatric disorder, including major depression, dysthymia, generalized anxiety disorders, and panic attacks. 26 Illicit drug use and heavy alcohol use were independently associated with screening positive for a psychiatric disorder.…”

Lebenslagen und Gesundheit älterer Drogenabhängiger: Ein Literaturbericht

“…So kommt es, dass ä ltere Drogenabh ä ngige sowohl von den j ü ngeren Drogenabh ä ngigen ausgegrenzt werden als auch von der Durchschnittsbev ö lkerung, den Anderen. Anderson & Levy [24] haben diesen Prozess anhand qualitativer Interviews mit ä lteren Drogenabh ä ngigen in Chicago nachgezeichnet. Sie zeigen, wie die Ä lteren von den J ü ngeren an den Rand der Gruppen gedr ä ngt werden, wo sie eine Art Schattendasein f ü hren.…”

“…Es sind nicht mehr die Jungen, die den typischen Drogentod sterben, sondern die Ä lteren und Alten [73,75] . Das spricht daf ü r, dass sich mit zunehmendem Alter Hoff nungslosigkeit unter den Drogenabh ä ngigen breit macht [24,76] , was manche dazu veranlasst, sich ganz bewusst den sogenannten " goldenen Schuss " zu setzen.…”