Historique
Article de Périodique
Looking beyond harm: meaning and purpose of substance use in the lives of marginalized people who use drugs (2020)
Auteur(s) :
IVSINS, A. ;
YAKE, K.
Année
2020
Page(s) :
27-36
Langue(s) :
Anglais
Domaine :
Drogues illicites / Illicit drugs
Thésaurus géographique
CANADA
Thésaurus mots-clés
MARGINAL
;
PRODUIT ILLICITE
;
ETUDE QUALITATIVE
;
EXCLUSION
;
EFFET RECHERCHE
;
DOULEUR
;
PSYCHOPATHOLOGIE
;
PLAISIR
Résumé :
Substance use among marginalized populations has historically been constructed as a social problem to be managed, cured, and eliminated. Much social science research concerning drug use among marginalized populations focuses on risks and harms, with little attention to positive aspects of substance use. In this paper we explore positive roles of drugs/drug use among marginalized people who use drugs. We draw on in-depth qualitative interviews conducted with 50 people who use drugs in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside neighbourhood. Forty-three participants reported positive aspects of drug use. Participant narratives revealed four main themes regarding the role and function of drugs and drug use in their lives: (1) pain relief and management; (2) alleviating mental health issues; (3) fostering social experiences; (4) pleasurable embodied experiences. Our findings show that despite known negative consequences of substance use, in many ways drug use was beneficial for these individuals. Our study demonstrates that given the opportunity, meaningful and useful conversations that shed light on why people take drugs is possible. By understanding why marginalized individuals choose to consume the drugs they do we can begin to engage in truly helpful conversations about how to reduce drug-related harm.
Affiliation :
Department of Sociology, University of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
Cote :
Abonnement