Women drug users in North Cumbria: what influences initiation into heroin in this non-urban setting?

This paper reports on a qualitative study which has investigated female problem drug use in North Cumbria, a relatively isolated area of the UK. Cumbria is the second most sparsely populated county in England with some of the most beautiful countryside juxtaposed with areas of disadvantage, particularly in towns along the west coast. Previous research has focused on female city dwellers and less is known about the social and cultural context of drug use in non-urban settings. The reasons for women's drug use remain controversial but gender differences appear to emerge. One frequent explanation is the influence of male oppression but some studies describe women as active players in their initiation. Findings from North Cumbria challenge the conventional view of women being coerced into illicit drug use and present greater complexity. The data derived from semi-structured interviews account for the impact of curiosity and trust, motives often tempered by a range of complex personal circumstances. A known individual, usually male, was often present at initiation and this relationship appears pivotal. I discuss these factors and will call for prevention initiatives to recognise the gender-specific determinants of initiation into problem drug use.