Patterns of Heroin Use

Abstract

Although there is no clear boundary between being a novice and an established heroin user, previous research has suggested that two key events help to identify entry into an active heroin-using lifestyle. These are the initial intravenous injection and the first experience of withdrawal symptoms. Both of these events symbolize a major transition in the drug-using career. From this point onwards, individuals are no longer experimenters but confirmed and active heroin addicts (Rosenbaum, 1981; Hanson et al., 1985; Pearson, 1987a). That is, they have reached the ‘mobility’ stage of the drug-using lifestyle (Faupel, 1991). Moreover, their new addict identity will be reinforced and strengthened as they cease being dependent on others to procure drugs for them and develop drug-using skills to the point where they begin to inject on their own (Rosenbaum, 1981; Faupel, 1991).