Epidemiological indicators and ethnographic realities of female cocaine use

C E Sterk; K Dolan; S Hatch

Epidemiological indicators and ethnographic realities of female cocaine use

C E Sterk, K Dolan, S Hatch

Emory University

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

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study is an ethnographic examination of differences in the male-to-female ratio among cocaine users in epidemiological indicators from emergency room departments, local drug-user treatment programs, and the pretrial detention center. In-depth interviews were conducted with female cocaine users. The lower female ratio in drug treatment and emergency department sources seems related to barriers to drug-user treatment for women and the image of emergency departments as an extension of the criminal justice system. The women's involvement in visible illegal activities and their perception as easy arrestees may explain the arrestee data ratio. The findings indicate that epidemiological indicators may misrepresent the gender distribution among drug users.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	2057-72
Number of pages	16
Journal	Substance Use and Misuse
Volume	34
Issue number	14
Publication status	Published - Dec 1999

Keywords

Cocaine-Related Disorders
Emergency Service, Hospital
Female
Georgia
Humans
Interview, Psychological
Male
Prisons
Prostitution
Sex Distribution
Sex Ratio
Social Perception
Substance Abuse Treatment Centers
Women

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Cite this

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title = "Epidemiological indicators and ethnographic realities of female cocaine use",

abstract = "This study is an ethnographic examination of differences in the male-to-female ratio among cocaine users in epidemiological indicators from emergency room departments, local drug-user treatment programs, and the pretrial detention center. In-depth interviews were conducted with female cocaine users. The lower female ratio in drug treatment and emergency department sources seems related to barriers to drug-user treatment for women and the image of emergency departments as an extension of the criminal justice system. The women's involvement in visible illegal activities and their perception as easy arrestees may explain the arrestee data ratio. The findings indicate that epidemiological indicators may misrepresent the gender distribution among drug users.",

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T1 - Epidemiological indicators and ethnographic realities of female cocaine use

AU - Sterk, C E

AU - Dolan, K

AU - Hatch, S

PY - 1999/12

Y1 - 1999/12

N2 - This study is an ethnographic examination of differences in the male-to-female ratio among cocaine users in epidemiological indicators from emergency room departments, local drug-user treatment programs, and the pretrial detention center. In-depth interviews were conducted with female cocaine users. The lower female ratio in drug treatment and emergency department sources seems related to barriers to drug-user treatment for women and the image of emergency departments as an extension of the criminal justice system. The women's involvement in visible illegal activities and their perception as easy arrestees may explain the arrestee data ratio. The findings indicate that epidemiological indicators may misrepresent the gender distribution among drug users.

AB - This study is an ethnographic examination of differences in the male-to-female ratio among cocaine users in epidemiological indicators from emergency room departments, local drug-user treatment programs, and the pretrial detention center. In-depth interviews were conducted with female cocaine users. The lower female ratio in drug treatment and emergency department sources seems related to barriers to drug-user treatment for women and the image of emergency departments as an extension of the criminal justice system. The women's involvement in visible illegal activities and their perception as easy arrestees may explain the arrestee data ratio. The findings indicate that epidemiological indicators may misrepresent the gender distribution among drug users.

KW - Cocaine-Related Disorders

KW - Emergency Service, Hospital

KW - Female

KW - Georgia

KW - Humans

KW - Interview, Psychological

KW - Male

KW - Prisons

KW - Prostitution

KW - Sex Distribution

KW - Sex Ratio

KW - Social Perception

KW - Substance Abuse Treatment Centers

KW - Women

M3 - Article

C2 - 10573304

SN - 1082-6084

VL - 34

SP - 2057

EP - 2072

JO - Substance Use and Misuse

JF - Substance Use and Misuse

IS - 14

ER -

Epidemiological indicators and ethnographic realities of female cocaine use

Abstract

Keywords

UN SDGs

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