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Lookup NU author(s): Dr Michelle Addison, Professor Eileen KanerORCiD, Liam SpencerORCiD, Dr Ruth McGovernORCiD, Dr Eilish Gilvarry, Professor Amy O'DonnellORCiD
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND).
© 2020 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.Amphetamine Type Stimulants (ATS) are increasingly used drugs globally. There is limited evidence about what shapes ATS use at critical turning points located within drug using pathways. Using turning point theory, as part of a life course approach, the ATTUNE study aimed to understand which social, economic and individual factors shape pathways into and out of ATS use. Qualitative, semi-structured interviews (n = 70) were undertaken with individuals who had used ATS, or had been exposed to them at least once. Our findings show that turning points for initiation were linked to pleasure, curiosity, boredom and declining mental health; increased use was linked to positive effects experienced at initiation and multiple life-stressors, leading to more intense use. Decreased use was prompted by pivotal events and sustained through continued wellbeing, day-to-day structure, and non-using social networks. We argue that the heterogeneity of these individuals challenges stereotypes of stimulant use allied to nightclubs and ‘hedonism’. Further, at critical turning points for recovery, the use of services for problematic ATS consumption was low because users prioritised their alcohol or opioid use when seeking help. There is a need to develop service provision, training, and better outreach to individuals who need support at critical turning points.
Author(s): Addison M, Kaner E, Spencer L, McGovern W, McGovern R, Gilvarry E, O'Donnell A
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Health Sociology Review
Year: 2021
Volume: 30
Issue: 2
Pages: 111-126
Online publication date: 02/09/2020
Acceptance date: 13/08/2020
Date deposited: 11/05/2021
ISSN (print): 1446-1242
ISSN (electronic): 1839-3551
Publisher: Routledge
URL: https://doi.org/10.1080/14461242.2020.1811747
DOI: 10.1080/14461242.2020.1811747
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