scholarly journals Men and the Drug Buzz: Masculinity and Men’s Motivations for Illicit Recreational Drug Use

2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 421-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clay Darcy
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Health Behaviours ◽  
Recreational Drug ◽  
Treatment Services ◽  
Recreational Drug Use ◽  
Problem Drug Use ◽  
Recreational Use ◽  
Problem Drug

The purpose of this article is to explore the motivations behind some men’s recreational use of illicit drugs from a gender standpoint. The rationale for this analysis stems from men’s predominance as illicit drug users and their likelihood of experiencing problem drug use and becoming a part of an over-represented population in drug treatment services. Explanations for men’s problematic/addicted patterns of drug use often point to marginalisation, disadvantage, and/or men’s tendency towards problematic health behaviours. This article argues that men’s illicit recreational drug use is often glossed over as a gendered activity and receives less scrutiny than problematic/addicted patterns of drug taking. It examines the drug-taking motivations of 20 Irish men who identified as illicit recreational drug users to expand on and deepen current explanations for men’s illicit recreational drug use. The article demonstrates how men engage in drug use for complex and contradictory reasons that include embodied quests for pleasure and excitement, achieving connection with other men, and performing or contravening masculinities in homosocial contexts.

Monitoring Problem Drug use in Bristol

1988 ◽  
Vol 152 (2) ◽  
pp. 214-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Parker ◽  
Yvonne Pool ◽  
Robert Rawle ◽  
Martyn Gay
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Case Register ◽  
Problematic Use ◽  
Problem Drug Use ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The City ◽  
Problem Drug

A prospective multi-agency survey of problem drug use associated with illicit drugs and solvents in the city of Bristol in 1984–1985 found 759 problem drug users, giving a period prevalence rate of 0.4–0.8% of those aged 10–44 years. The group was a young one, with 92% under the age of 35. Over half had problems associated with opiates, mainly illicit heroin; 17% had problems associated with solvents, 9% with cannabis, 13% with stimulants, mainly illicit amphetamine, and 3% with hallucinogens. There was little indication of problematic use of barbiturates or cocaine. The problems associated with drugs and solvents were wide-ranging and not specific for individual drugs. Future community surveys would find it cost-effective to concentrate on the five best sources identified here, and to supplement these with indications of drug-taking among teenagers. The difficulties of using the definition of problem drug use for research and the value of case-register surveys for community drug monitoring are discussed.

Making the invisible visible: Masculinities and men’s illicit recreational drug use

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 5-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clay Darcy
Keyword(s):  
Focus Groups ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
Gender Disparity ◽  
Recreational Drug ◽  
Recreational Drug Use ◽  
Recreational Use ◽  
Depth Interviews

This paper highlights a significant gender disparity within Ireland’s illicit drug landscape, which is predominantly composed of men. Irish men’s historical gender invisibility contributed to their predominance as drug users being overlooked. Thus, this paper focuses a masculinities lens on Irish men’s recreational use of illicit drugs, making their drug taking visible as a gendered activity. The study utilised a qualitative methodology, with masculinities theory forming the primary theoretical and analytical lens. Nine focus groups were conducted with Irish men exploring their views on illicit drugs. Twenty in-depth interviews were completed with men who identified as illicit recreational drug users, exploring their drug-taking histories and experiences. Findings demonstrate how the use of illicit drugs can symbolically communicate messages about the drug taker. The study reveals masculinities are an interpretative lens employed by men when trying to understand their own or other men’s drug taking. It is argued that men’s drug taking and masculinities intersect. In homosocial contexts, men’s recreational use of illicit drugs can contribute to them demonstrating masculinities to other drug-taking men; however, outside of these contexts, the same behaviours can be viewed by non-drug takers as emasculating.

Problematic recreational drug use: is there a role for outpatient sexual health clinics in identifying those not already engaged with treatment services?

Sexual Health ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 501 ◽  
Author(s):  
Caitlyn Lovett ◽  
T. Yamamoto ◽  
Laura Hunter ◽  
John White ◽  
Paul I. Dargan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Recreational Drug ◽  
Problematic Use ◽  
Treatment Services ◽  
Health Clinics ◽  
Problematic Drug ◽  
Recreational Drug Use ◽  
Sexual Health Clinics

Background There is an association between recreational drug use, high-risk sexual activity and sexually transmissible infections. Studies have shown a higher prevalence of drug use in those accessing sexual health services; however, there are minimal data on the proportion with problematic recreational drug use. We aimed to understand whether sexual health clinics could identify problematic drug and alcohol use as a novel referral pathway into treatment services. Methods: Males attending two sexual health clinics in London completed questionnaires. Data were collected on demographics; gender of sexual partner; use of alcohol and recreational drugs; if they felt they had problematic use of drugs, alcohol or both; and if they had sought help for their problematic use. Results: In total, 867 males completed the questionnaire; 387 (44.7%) were men who have sex with men (MSM). MSM had significantly higher lifetime use of any drug compared with non-MSM (80.6% vs. 62.5%; P < 0.0001). Thirty-five (4.7%) self-identified problematic drug or alcohol use, with no difference between MSM and non-MSM (6.3% vs. 3.5%; P = 0.08). Of those with problematic drug or alcohol use, 20 were currently or had been engaged with a treatment service and 15 had never engaged with treatment services. MSM were more likely to have ever sought help for drug or alcohol problems compared with non-MSM (P = 0.003). Conclusions: Some individuals attending sexual health clinics with problematic drug use have not engaged with treatment services. It is therefore appropriate to develop screening tools for sexual health clinics to identify these individuals and novel referral pathways to engage them in treatment services.

The Teenage Transition: From Adolescent Recreational Drug Use to the Young Adult Dance Culture in Britain in the MID-1990s

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fiona Measham ◽  
Howard Parker ◽  
Judith Aldridge
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Recreational Drug ◽  
Adolescent Drug Use ◽  
Dance Culture ◽  
Patterns Of Use ◽  
Recreational Drug Use ◽  
The University ◽  
Diverse Groups

This paper gives an overview of some of the most recent research surrounding the use of prohibited or illicit drugs by young people in Britain. Current research on the prevalence of illicit drug use identifies an unprecedented rise in such use by increasingly diverse groups of young people of all socioeconomic backgrounds. Presenting here for the first time 4 years of data from the University of Manchester northwest longitudinal study of English adolescent drug use, the paper looks at patterns of use of different drugs, differential experiences with these drugs, and characteristics of use and non-use throughout the mid-teens. Along with this transformation in adolescent drug use has been a similar rise in the prevalence of drug use by young adults, which is located in the context of the dance party or ‘rave’ scene in Britain, linked to the ‘dance revolution’ and to a wider youth culture that reflects an acceptance of drug use both by users and non-users as a part of young people's leisure. This has led the authors to identify a process of ‘normalization’ of recreational drug use among young people with resulting legal, education, employment, and health implications.

scholarly journals Gang Talk and Strategic Moralisations in Danish Drug Policy Discourses on Young and Recreational Drug Users

2021 ◽  
pp. 161-181
Author(s):  
Thomas Friis Søgaard ◽  
Frank Søgaard Nielsen
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Drug Policy ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Recreational Drug ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Recreational Use ◽  
Policy Discourses

In Denmark, a moralization of recreational use of drugs has lately occurred. The use is interpreted in a neo-liberal framing seeing the user who can chose as selfish, not regarding the negative consequences of drug use in a wider sense, and the legislation has been sharpened.

scholarly journals Drug use and pregnancy – challenges for public health

2009 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
V A Gyarmathy ◽  
I Giraudon ◽  
D Hedrich ◽  
L Montanari ◽  
B Guarita ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Obstetric Care ◽  
Medical Intervention ◽  
Special Treatment ◽  
Perinatal Complications ◽  
Problem Drug Use ◽  
Problem Drug

Problem drug use in pregnancy affects a sizeable population in Europe. A literature review was carried out of articles in PubMed, European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction publications, and related documents in order to assess public health challenges and possible intervention strategies related to problem drug use and pregnancy in Europe. It revealed the following: Involving pregnant drug users in drug treatment is likely to decrease the chances of pre- and perinatal complications related to drug use and to increase access to prenatal care. Timely medical intervention can effectively prevent vertical transmission of human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus as well as certain other sexually transmitted diseases, and would allow newborns infected with hepatitis C virus during birth to receive immediate treatment. Pregnancy may be a unique opportunity to also help women with dual diagnosis (substance use combined with mental illness) and enrol them into special treatment and support programmes. Issues related to homelessness and intimate partner violence can also be addressed with appropriate interventions. Treatment and care for pregnant drug users should offer coordinated interventions in several areas: drug use, infectious diseases, mental health, personal and social welfare, and gynaecological/obstetric care.

scholarly journals The Prevalence of Problem Drug Use in Lithuania

Medicina ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 47 (6) ◽  
pp. 48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Audronė Astrauskienė ◽  
Valerij Dobrovolskij ◽  
Rimantas Stukas
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Female Ratio ◽  
Capture Recapture ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Problem Drug Use ◽  
Male To Female ◽  
Problem Drug

The aim of this study was to estimate and assess the prevalence of problem drug use in Lithuania. Materials and Methods. The capture-recapture method was used to estimate the prevalence of problem drug use. For the study, the data concerning problem drug users were collected from the databases of health care and law enforcement institutions. The target group consisted of permanent users (aged 15–64 years) of heroin and other opioids and/or a combination of drugs. Results. In Lithuania, 431 monitored problem drug users were identifi ed in 2005, 482 in 2006, and 447 in 2007. The male-to-female ratio among the monitored problem drug users was 6:1 in 2006 and 4:1 in 2005 and 2007. The mean age of the monitored problem drug users was 26.8 years in 2005, 27.6 years in 2006, and 28.0 years in 2007. In total, 5699 problem drug users were identified (95% CI, 5552 to 5849) in 2005, 5800 (95% CI, 5652 to 5951) in 2006, and 5458 (95% CI, 5314 to 5605) in 2007. According to the gathered data, the prevalence of problem drug use was 2.3 cases per 1000 Lithuanian population aged 15–64 years in 2005, 2.5 in 2006, and 2.4 in 2007. Conclusions. The study showed one of the lowest prevalence of problem drug use in Lithuania as in Germany, the Netherlands, Greece, and Cyprus. In 2005–2007, problem drug users were mainly young men of employable age in Lithuania.

Illicit Drugs

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louisa Degenhardt ◽  
Wayne Hall ◽  
Chiara Bucello
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Drug Dependence ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
Illicit Drug Use ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Problem Drug Use ◽  
Problem Drug

Although illicit drug use has been documented across the world, the quality of these estimates is best in the developed countries of Europe, North America, and Australasia. Regular use, “problem drug use,” and drug dependence are less frequently measured but are important to quantify in order to identify disease burden. This paper reviews European, North American, and Australasian estimates of illicit drug use, problem drug use, and drug dependence and presents risk factors of illicit drug use. These risk factors include health risks related to cannabis and mortality associated with problem drug use and injecting drug use. Drug-related morbidity is reviewed, including nonfatal overdose, HIV/AIDS, and hepatitis B and C. Future research needs to focus on obtaining better estimates of mortality and morbidity to better understand the harms associated with illicit drug dependence.

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