Although the cross-sectional designs precluded causal inferences, longitudinal studies could enhance understanding of gender-associated risks for abscesses and inform the development of harm reduction interventions. We found a female-specific association between sex work, injection drug use, and abscesses among PWID. There was no association between sex work and abscesses among men. Among the females, engaging in sex work increased by >5-fold the odds of reporting abscesses. 012) and abscess during their lifetime (55% vs. Females were more likely than men to report sex work (28% vs.

The study sample included 298 people including 30% were female. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to model associations. Information on demographics, injection-mediated risks, and sexual behaviors was collected using Audio Computer-Assisted Self-Interview Software. The goal of this study was to examine the contemporary associations of gender and sex work with the risk of abscesses in PWID.Ĭombining data from two cross-sectional studies conducted in the Greater Boston Area with people at risk for HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV), we used the following inclusion criteria: age 18-45 years and report of illicit or non-prescription drug injection within the 30 days prior to the survey. However, whether the risks are comparable between males and females, and the impact of sex work on abscess risk is unclear. This paper offers an olive branch to those willing to see Cocaine Confessions iii things from a different perspective and possibly change their existing beliefs about adolescent drug use.Ībscesses commonly occur among people who inject drugs (PWID). This study has the potential to help young people, parents, educators, policymakers, health care providers, those in recovery, and others better understand the intricacies and more contextual factors that influence and are involved in adolescent drug use. Most notably, this drug interfered with my ability to create and sustain healthy relationships, and I believe that cocaine contributed to the development of my mental illness. In terms of impact, cocaine had a negative overall effect on my physical, psychological, and social development. Cocaine significantly shifted our peer group dynamics and strongly influenced our interactions with each other unlike any other drug at that point. My experiences with cocaine were truly a collective experience, as I never consumed this drug alone. I consumed cocaine for a variety of reasons: I was curious about the drug, it helped me temporarily escape my life problems and find short-term relief from my distress and emotional pain, I had a desire to experience euphoria, drug use was a means of socializing and cocaine became the most coveted substance among my peers, using cocaine helped me gain and maintain status within my peer groups, and I used and continued to use cocaine because I likely developed a substance use disorder. As such, I genuinely and painstakingly share how cocaine affected my life and how I perceived it to affect the lives of my peers. This approach can help address the misconceptions and stigmas associated with this behaviour. Also, with any personal story about drugs, it is crucial to provide honest and thoughtful narratives about how drug use can affect someone's life. Therefore, I explore each of these factors and their influence on my experiences with cocaine.

However, to understand drug use, one must carefully unpack the psychosocial, cultural, environmental, and historical factors that influence this behaviour. I examine how and why I used cocaine as an adolescent. This autoethnography adds my story to the scholarly literature on adolescent drug use.

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