“I am not a junkie”: Social categorization and differentiation among people who use drugs

Original research
par
Sibley, Adams L. et al

Date de publication

2023

Géographie

USA

Langue de la ressource

English

Texte disponible en version intégrale

Non

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

Non

Évalué par des pairs

Yes

L’objectif

This qualitative study investigated strategies of within-group categorization and differentiation among PWUD and the roles these social categories may play in shaping intragroup attitudes, perceptions, and behaviors.

Constatations/points à retenir

We identified seven social categories that were commonly appraised by participants along eight evaluative dimensions. Categories included drug of choice, route of administration, method of attainment, gender, age, genesis of use, and recovery approach. Categories were evaluated by participants based on ascribed characteristics of morality, destructiveness, aversiveness, control, functionality, victimhood, recklessness, and determination. Participants performed nuanced identity work during interviews, including reifying social categories, defining ‘addict’ prototypicality, reflexively comparing self to other, and disidentifying from the PWUD supra-category.

La conception ou méthodologie de recherche

In-depth interviews with people who reported using opioids or injecting any drug (n=355).

Mots clés

About PWUD