The Process of Injection Drug Use Among Homeless Women in Ottawa, Canada: A Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: The literature on women who use injection drugs (WUIDs) is antiquated and diluted by data from men. Due to the higher rates of morbidity and mortality among WUID, we undertook a qualitative study to better understand their drug use practices.
METHODS: We adopted a Deleuze-Guattarian lens and engaged in semi-structured interviews with 35 women in Ottawa, Canada. Data from 31 of these women were analyzed using applied thematic analysis.
RESULTS: We divided these themes into (a) how WUID obtain resources to acquire drug,and (b) the steps involved in preparing, using, and discarding drugs. From our Deleuzo-Guattarian perspective, these findings highlighted that participants stratified their worlds according to rules of cleanliness to create hierarchies of appropriateness and acceptability.
CONCLUSIONS: These findings, overall, highlight the importance of understanding the constructed world of WUIDs, particularly regarding the ways in which nurses interact with these women to provide care. © Copyright 2021 Springer Publishing Company, LLC.