Sociology
Dariush Boostani; Elham Karamizadeh
Abstract
Addiction is one of the important social problems in Iran, and is considered a masculine problem. Nevertheless, women are also facing this phenomenon. Now we are witness to the tendency of women to industrial drug misuse. Since few studies have been conducted in this regard, especially qualitative studies, ...
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Addiction is one of the important social problems in Iran, and is considered a masculine problem. Nevertheless, women are also facing this phenomenon. Now we are witness to the tendency of women to industrial drug misuse. Since few studies have been conducted in this regard, especially qualitative studies, this article aims to study the conditions (causal, intervening, and contextual conditions) and strategies of crystal (Methamphetamine) consumption by addicted women in the City of Kerman. Given that discovery and understanding of addiction to crystal among women is a sensitive phenomenon that requires interaction and dialogue, Grounded Theory methodology was used as the research approach. 12 addicted women were selected as the participants, following qualitative purposive sampling and theoretical saturation criterion and their life experiences were analyzed. In-depth open ended interview was used to collect data. Generally, data coding culminated in 13 categories and 18 subcategories which indicate conditions and strategies of crystal consumption, including: life tensions, facilitator beliefs of consumption, sex and crystal (Methamphetamine) consumption, knowledge of using crystal, strategies of providing drug's cost, etc. Finally, extracted categories were presented in a model of conditions and strategies of crystal consumption. Generally, participants encountered several challenges during the process of crystal misuse. Different conditions led them to misuse. They adopted various and dangerous strategies to obtain crystal. These strategies ranged from borrowing money to sexual exploitation and beggary.