Lecture 8 : drugs and Social Structures

Question 1

What has evidence consistently shown about drug use in men compared to women?
about the likely to use and develop drug problems

Answer 1

Men are more likely to use drugs and develop drug-related problems than women.

Question 2

How were women who used drugs typically framed prior to the 1980s?
described as

Answer 2

As having some sort of pathology or mental illness, described as “mad, bad, or sad.”

Question 3

How was drug use among women perceived in terms of gender norms?

Answer 3

It was seen as a serious breach of gender norms.

Question 3

How are women drug users typically framed when they are intoxicated?

Answer 3

As being particularly vulnerable, increasing the risk to themselves and their children/dependents.

Question 4

What does ‘Victim’ approach to understanding female drug use

Answer 4

Victims who are powerless and in the thrall of a dominant male

Question 5

What does ‘Villains’ approach to understanding female drug use

Answer 5

Villains who fail to conform to social expectations of what a ‘good’ woman should be

Question 6

How does Elizabeth Ettorre (2004) describe gender?

Answer 6

As a process and an institution.

Question 7

How is drug use typically framed according to Ettorre?

Answer 7

As embodied deviance.

Question 8

How is drug use perceived according to Ettorre?

Answer 8

As polluting people’s bodies.

Question 9

Why is drug use viewed as worse for women than men according to Ettorre?

Emotional

Pregnant

Family environment

Answer 9

It goes against their role as emotional bearers and homemakers.

They pollute not only their own bodies but also that of their unborn child.

It contaminates the family environment, which is viewed as the domain of women.

Question 10

Who were more likely to be current drug users at all ages according to Measham et al (2011)?

Answer 10

Men compared to women.

Question 11

Why did women feel concerned, anxious, and scared of entering women-only residential treatment services according to Neale et al (2018)?

Answer 11

Due to poor previous experiences with other women and women-only services, and being more used to being around men.

Question 11

How did the likelihood of being recent drug users change for women from their late teens/early 20s to age 27?
so what is significant about teens/early 20s but also then at 27?

Answer 11

Women were less likely to be recent drug users in their late teens/early 20s, but by age 27, they were just as likely as men to be recent drug users.

Question 11

What 4 structural factors were examined by Measham et al (2011)?

Answer 11

Parenthood
Intimate relationships
Employment
Leaving parental home

Question 11

By age 27, what was observed about women compared to men regarding drug use?

Answer 11

Twice as many women as men were desisters (those who stopped using drugs).

Question 12

According to Dowsett et al (2005), what is the risk for MSM (Men who have Sex with Men) who inject drugs compared to others?

Answer 12

MSM who inject drugs are at greater risk of blood-borne viruses.

Question 13

What is chemsex?

Answer 13

The use of stimulant and/or depressant drugs to enhance pleasure during sex.

Question 14

What risks are associated with chemsex?

Answer 14

Often involves polydrug use and can carry risks such as STDs, distress, and overdose.

Question 15

What are 3 motivations for chemsex according to Schmidt et al (2016)?

Answer 15

Enhanced sexual confidence

Longevity of contact (e.g., maintaining erections)

Ability to push sexual boundaries/perform acts that might otherwise not have been possible

Question 16

What compounds drug problems according to Wanigaratne et al (2003)?

Answer 16

Links between ethnicity and poverty

Question 17

What is the most popular drug among African & African Caribbean communities in the UK?

Answer 17

Cannabis.

Question 18

What additional substance is chewed by some African & African Caribbean communities?

Answer 18

Khat.

Question 19

How does alcohol consumption in African & African Caribbean communities compare with other groups?

Answer 19

it is lower

Question 20

What is the most popular drug among Asian communities in the UK?

Answer 20

Canabis

Question 21

In which communities is Khat an important drug?

Answer 21

Somali communities.

Question 22

How was Khat used socially in Somali communities before the ban?

Answer 22

As a social activity with benefits of relaxation,

Share News: While chewing khat, they would chat and share news about their home countries.

Support Each Other: During these gatherings, they also helped each other with advice and paperwork.

Question 23

Who studied the social aspects of Khat chewing before the ban?

Answer 23

Kassim et al (2015)

Question 24

What domains of social exclusion intersect in the concept of Multiple Exclusion Homelessness?

Answer 24

Homelessness

Substance misuse

Having been in institutional care (e.g., prison)

Engaging in street culture activities (e.g., begging)

Question 25

How is social exclusion described in the context of Multiple Exclusion Homelessness?

Answer 25

Social exclusion is cumulative.

Question 26

According to Fortier et al (2020), what behaviors are more likely in unstably-housed people who inject drugs

Answer 26

They are more likely to use stimulants, inject in public, and borrow injecting equipment from others compared to their stably-housed counterparts.

Question 27

How does improving housing conditions affect people who inject drugs?

Answer 27

They are more likely to decrease and less likely to increase injecting frequency over time compared to those with declining housing conditions.

Question 28

What is the implication for blood-borne viruses in people with unstable housing who inject drugs?

Answer 28

They are at higher risk of contracting a blood-borne virus since they are more likely to share drug equipment.

Question 29

What policy approach does Fortier et al (2020) suggest to tackle homelessness?

Answer 29

A ‘Housing First’ approach.