The heroin users : a study of heroin lifestyles

Abstract

This study explores what it is like to be a heroin user. It investigates the impact that relationships, leisure participation, economic sustainability, health behaviour and societal reaction have on the development of heroin lifestyle. The value of this research is to give a voice to participants and to uncover their experiences and the realities they encounter during their lifestyles. Eight participants were chosen for this study, all selected from the Caritas Harm Reduction Shelter. They were all active heroin users who stopped using substances at least for a period of time. Their ages range from 20 to 37 years. The research outcome indicated that some participants believed that their families' relationships influenced both the initiation and the maintenance of their addiction, whilst for others, their family was a safety net and a reason to come off substances, at least for a while. They stated that associating with other substance-using peers had facilitated the initiation and escalation of heroin use. They all used to practice sports before they were active heroin users but eventually they abandoned all conventional activities, being, they wasted their energy and time into the hunt for heroin use. Due to their chaotic lifestyles they were not able to maintain a regular employment, thus they turned to illegal activities to sustain their habit. Heroin users run risks of experiencing health problems. Some participants acknowledged this fact but nonetheless they abandoned safety precautions when they experienced withdrawal symptoms. They experienced stigma both from non-substance users and also from other non-heroin substance users. They all claimed that at some point in their career they tried to quit heroin use but never been completely successful. They rejected the image of being a passive person, claiming that quitting the heroin lifestyle is a matter of choice. This study concludes with recommendations for further research and services development.