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A qualitative study of methamphetamine initiation in Cape Town, South Africa.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Hobkirk, AL; Watt, MH; Myers, B; Skinner, D; Meade, CS
Published in: The International journal on drug policy
April 2016

Despite a significant rise in methamphetamine use in low- and middle-income countries, there has been little empirical examination of the factors that contribute to individuals' initiation of methamphetamine use in these settings. The goal of this study was to qualitatively examine factors associated with methamphetamine initiation in South Africa.In-depth interviews were conducted with 30 active methamphetamine users (13 women and 17 men) in Cape Town, South Africa. Interviews included narrative descriptions of the circumstances surrounding methamphetamine initiation. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed, and translated. Transcripts were analyzed with document memos, data display matrices, and a constant comparison technique to identify themes.On average, participants began regularly using methamphetamine around age 21 and had used for seven years. Four major themes emerged related to the initiation of methamphetamine use. The prevalence of methamphetamine users and distributors made the drug convenient and highly accessible to first time users. Methamphetamine has increased in popularity and is considered "trendy", which contributes to social pressure from friends, and less often, family members to initiate use. Initiation is further fueled by a lack of opportunities for recreation and employment, which leads to boredom and curiosity about the rumored positive effects of the drug. Young people also turn to methamphetamine use and distribution through gang membership as an attempt to generate income in impoverished communities with limited economic opportunities. Finally, participants described initiating methamphetamine as a means of coping with the cumulative stress and psychological burden provoked by the high rates of violence and crime in areas of Cape Town.The findings highlight the complex nature of methamphetamine initiation in low- and middle-income countries like South Africa. There is a need for community-level interventions to address the availability and perceived normality of methamphetamine use, and to provide young people opportunities for recreation. On an individual level, addressing mental health and misconceptions about the dangers and benefits of methamphetamine could ameliorate willingness for initiation. Potential points of intervention include mass media campaigns and school-based interventions to raise awareness of the physical and social impacts of methamphetamine, and structural interventions to create safer neighborhoods, provide opportunities for employment and recreation, and expand mental health services to improve emotional health and coping skills.

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Published In

The International journal on drug policy

DOI

EISSN

1873-4758

ISSN

0955-3959

Publication Date

April 2016

Volume

30

Start / End Page

99 / 106

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Violence
  • Substance Abuse
  • Stress, Psychological
  • South Africa
  • Prevalence
  • Methamphetamine
  • Male
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Humans
 

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Hobkirk, A. L., Watt, M. H., Myers, B., Skinner, D., & Meade, C. S. (2016). A qualitative study of methamphetamine initiation in Cape Town, South Africa. The International Journal on Drug Policy, 30, 99–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2015.10.006
Hobkirk, Andréa L., Melissa H. Watt, Bronwyn Myers, Donald Skinner, and Christina S. Meade. “A qualitative study of methamphetamine initiation in Cape Town, South Africa.The International Journal on Drug Policy 30 (April 2016): 99–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2015.10.006.
Hobkirk AL, Watt MH, Myers B, Skinner D, Meade CS. A qualitative study of methamphetamine initiation in Cape Town, South Africa. The International journal on drug policy. 2016 Apr;30:99–106.
Hobkirk, Andréa L., et al. “A qualitative study of methamphetamine initiation in Cape Town, South Africa.The International Journal on Drug Policy, vol. 30, Apr. 2016, pp. 99–106. Epmc, doi:10.1016/j.drugpo.2015.10.006.
Hobkirk AL, Watt MH, Myers B, Skinner D, Meade CS. A qualitative study of methamphetamine initiation in Cape Town, South Africa. The International journal on drug policy. 2016 Apr;30:99–106.

Published In

The International journal on drug policy

DOI

EISSN

1873-4758

ISSN

0955-3959

Publication Date

April 2016

Volume

30

Start / End Page

99 / 106

Related Subject Headings

  • Young Adult
  • Violence
  • Substance Abuse
  • Stress, Psychological
  • South Africa
  • Prevalence
  • Methamphetamine
  • Male
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Humans