Perceptions of Addiction among Street Recruited Heroin Users

1. Perceptions of Addiction among Street Recruited Heroin Users Lindsey Mills* Dixie J. Koo* Dale D. Chitwood** *California State University, Fullerton **University of Miami Supported by NIDA grant R01 DA10655

7. Demographic Profile (N=40) Race / Ethnicity Gender Age Category N = 40 Percent Black non-Hispanic 21 52.5 Hispanic / Latino 10 25.0 White non-Hispanic 9 22.5 Category N = 40 Percent Male 24 60.0 Female 16 40.0 Category N = 40 Percent 20 -30 10 25.0 31 – 40 12 30.0 41 – 50 12 30.0 50 + 6 15.0

8. Conceptual Categories Category N Description of Heroin Addiction As: 1. Usage 4 Inevitable and a necessary consequence of using heroin at all 3. Control 35 Control through the monitoring of behavior and/or the regulating of heroin use 2. Process 14 Not immediate but the result of continued use 4. Mental 24 Manipulated by a strong will of the mind 5. Boredom 7 A product of an unoccupied mind 6. Desire 9 A reflection of a desire, want, or yearning for heroin or its high

9. Conceptual Categories Category N Description of Heroin Addition As: 7. Addictive Personality 3 A type of person who possesses personality traits that are susceptible to heroin addition 8. Physical Dependence 26 Physiological and chemical adaptation to heroin 9. Withdrawal 21 Illness and pain associated with the physical side of heroin 10. Heroin vs. Crack/Cocaine 18 Cocaine / Crack-cocaine = mental addiction Heroin = physical addiction 11. Heroin as Medicine 9 A cure for withdrawal symptoms

10. Intersection of Conceptual Categories of Heroin Addiction

11. Examples: Intersection of Conceptual Categories 37.5 % 37.5 % 35.0 %

12. Four Dimensions Heroin Use Control Psychological Physiological N = 18 45.0 % Usage N = 35 Process N = 28 N = 36 90.0 % 70.0 % 87.5 % Control Mental Addictive Personality Desire Boredom Withdrawal Physical Dependence Heroin as Medicine Heroin vs. Cocaine/crack- cocaine