Chasing the dragon: characteristics of heroin chasers

M Gossop; P Griffiths; J Strang

doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.1988.tb03022.x

Chasing the dragon: characteristics of heroin chasers

M Gossop, P Griffiths, J Strang

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

61 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Little is known about those heroin users who take the drug by inhalation (‘chasing the dragon’). This study investigates patterns of heroin use among a group of chasers, and compares them with injectors. The results suggest that chasing was not merely a pre-injection phase of heroin use; 87% had been chasers for more than 2 years and 27% for more than 5 years whereas 69% of the injectors had begun using heroin intravenously within 1 year of first use. Chasers were younger than injectors and had started using heroin earlier. Results do not support the suggestion that the move from chasing to injecting is linked to the costs of sustaining a habit. A small group of young black males was seen, all of whom were either exclusively or predominantly heroin chasers. Implications of these results are discussed.

Original language	English
Article number	N/A
Pages (from-to)	1159-1162
Number of pages	4
Journal	British Journal of Addiction
Volume	83
Issue number	10
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1360-0443.1988.tb03022.x
Publication status	Published - Oct 1988

Keywords

Administration, Intranasal
Adult
Age Factors
Female
Heroin
Heroin Dependence
Humans
Male

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10.1111/j.1360-0443.1988.tb03022.x

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title = "Chasing the dragon: characteristics of heroin chasers",

abstract = "Little is known about those heroin users who take the drug by inhalation ({\textquoteleft}chasing the dragon{\textquoteright}). This study investigates patterns of heroin use among a group of chasers, and compares them with injectors. The results suggest that chasing was not merely a pre-injection phase of heroin use; 87% had been chasers for more than 2 years and 27% for more than 5 years whereas 69% of the injectors had begun using heroin intravenously within 1 year of first use. Chasers were younger than injectors and had started using heroin earlier. Results do not support the suggestion that the move from chasing to injecting is linked to the costs of sustaining a habit. A small group of young black males was seen, all of whom were either exclusively or predominantly heroin chasers. Implications of these results are discussed.",

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T1 - Chasing the dragon

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AU - Gossop, M

AU - Griffiths, P

AU - Strang, J

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N2 - Little is known about those heroin users who take the drug by inhalation (‘chasing the dragon’). This study investigates patterns of heroin use among a group of chasers, and compares them with injectors. The results suggest that chasing was not merely a pre-injection phase of heroin use; 87% had been chasers for more than 2 years and 27% for more than 5 years whereas 69% of the injectors had begun using heroin intravenously within 1 year of first use. Chasers were younger than injectors and had started using heroin earlier. Results do not support the suggestion that the move from chasing to injecting is linked to the costs of sustaining a habit. A small group of young black males was seen, all of whom were either exclusively or predominantly heroin chasers. Implications of these results are discussed.

AB - Little is known about those heroin users who take the drug by inhalation (‘chasing the dragon’). This study investigates patterns of heroin use among a group of chasers, and compares them with injectors. The results suggest that chasing was not merely a pre-injection phase of heroin use; 87% had been chasers for more than 2 years and 27% for more than 5 years whereas 69% of the injectors had begun using heroin intravenously within 1 year of first use. Chasers were younger than injectors and had started using heroin earlier. Results do not support the suggestion that the move from chasing to injecting is linked to the costs of sustaining a habit. A small group of young black males was seen, all of whom were either exclusively or predominantly heroin chasers. Implications of these results are discussed.

KW - Administration, Intranasal

KW - Adult

KW - Age Factors

KW - Female

KW - Heroin

KW - Heroin Dependence

KW - Humans

KW - Male

U2 - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1988.tb03022.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1988.tb03022.x

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JF - British Journal of Addiction

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Chasing the dragon: characteristics of heroin chasers

Abstract

Keywords

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