Lynn D Wenger1, Andrea M Lopez2, Megan Comfort3, Alex H Kral4. 1. Urban Health Program, RTI International, San Francisco Regional Office, 351 California St. Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94104, USA. Electronic address: lynndee@rti.org. 2. Urban Health Program, RTI International, San Francisco Regional Office, 351 California St. Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94104, USA; Department of Anthropology, University of New Mexico, MSC01-1040, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA; HIV/AIDS Division, University of California, 995 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA. 3. Urban Health Program, RTI International, San Francisco Regional Office, 351 California St. Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94104, USA; Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco 50 Beale St., San Francisco, CA 94105, USA. 4. Urban Health Program, RTI International, San Francisco Regional Office, 351 California St. Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94104, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Dominant public health and medical discourse has relied on a pharmacocentric conception of heroin use-that is, the notion that heroin users inject compulsively to stave off physical and psychological withdrawal. Previous research disputes this claim suggesting that other patterns of heroin use, such as occasional, recreational, or controlled use are possible. In our previous cross-sectional epidemiological research, we identified the phenomenon of low frequency heroin injection (low-FHI), among street-based drug users. The goal of the current study was to qualitatively assess and contextualise this phenomenon over time among a sample of street-based low-FHI. METHODS: 29 low-FHI and 25 high frequency heroin injectors (high-FHI) were followed for 2 years, during which they participated in a series of in-depth interviews. Qualitative data were coded using an inductive analysis approach. As similarities and differences between participants were discovered, transcripts were queried for supportive quotations as well as negative cases. RESULTS: We found the social context among low-FHI and high-FHI to be similar with the exception of their patterns of heroin use. Thus, we focused this analysis on understanding motivations for and management of low-FHI. Two major categories of low-FHI emerged from the data: maintenance and transitioning low-FHI. Maintenance low-FHI sustained low-FHI over time. Some of these heroin users were circumstantial low-FHI, who maintained low-FHI as a result of their social networks or life events, and others maintained low-FHI purposefully. Transitioning low-FHI did not sustain low use throughout the study. We found that heroin use patterns frequently shift over time and these categories help identify factors impacting drug use within particular moments in an individual's life. CONCLUSIONS: Given the various patterns of heroin use that were identified in this study, when working with IDUs, one must assess the specifics of heroin use patterns including drug preferences, desire for substance abuse treatment, as well as basic physical and mental health care needs.
BACKGROUND: Dominant public health and medical discourse has relied on a pharmacocentric conception of heroin use-that is, the notion that heroin users inject compulsively to stave off physical and psychological withdrawal. Previous research disputes this claim suggesting that other patterns of heroin use, such as occasional, recreational, or controlled use are possible. In our previous cross-sectional epidemiological research, we identified the phenomenon of low frequency heroin injection (low-FHI), among street-based drug users. The goal of the current study was to qualitatively assess and contextualise this phenomenon over time among a sample of street-based low-FHI. METHODS: 29 low-FHI and 25 high frequency heroin injectors (high-FHI) were followed for 2 years, during which they participated in a series of in-depth interviews. Qualitative data were coded using an inductive analysis approach. As similarities and differences between participants were discovered, transcripts were queried for supportive quotations as well as negative cases. RESULTS: We found the social context among low-FHI and high-FHI to be similar with the exception of their patterns of heroin use. Thus, we focused this analysis on understanding motivations for and management of low-FHI. Two major categories of low-FHI emerged from the data: maintenance and transitioning low-FHI. Maintenance low-FHI sustained low-FHI over time. Some of these heroin users were circumstantial low-FHI, who maintained low-FHI as a result of their social networks or life events, and others maintained low-FHI purposefully. Transitioning low-FHI did not sustain low use throughout the study. We found that heroin use patterns frequently shift over time and these categories help identify factors impacting drug use within particular moments in an individual's life. CONCLUSIONS: Given the various patterns of heroin use that were identified in this study, when working with IDUs, one must assess the specifics of heroin use patterns including drug preferences, desire for substance abuse treatment, as well as basic physical and mental health care needs.
Authors: Lynn D Wenger; Alexis N Martinez; Lisa Carpenter; Dara Geckeler; Grant Colfax; Alex H Kral Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2010-05-13 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Alex H Kral; Mohsen Malekinejad; Jason Vaudrey; Alexis N Martinez; Jennifer Lorvick; Willi McFarland; H Fisher Raymond Journal: J Urban Health Date: 2010-09 Impact factor: 3.671
Authors: Alex H Kral; Lynn Wenger; Scott P Novak; Daniel Chu; Karen F Corsi; Diana Coffa; Brad Shapiro; Ricky N Bluthenthal Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2015-05-22 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Rachel Carmen Ceasar; Alex H Kral; Kelsey Simpson; Lynn Wenger; Jesse L Goldshear; Ricky N Bluthenthal Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2020-11-23 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Stephanie Lake; Zach Walsh; Thomas Kerr; Ziva D Cooper; Jane Buxton; Evan Wood; Mark A Ware; M J Milloy Journal: PLoS Med Date: 2019-11-19 Impact factor: 11.069