Substance use & misuse
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Substance use & misuse · Jan 2005
The rise of club drugs in a heroin society: the case of Hong Kong.
Although the contemporary dance drug scene is a global phenomenon, with many countries and cultures reporting similar developments with ecstasy and other club drug use, the scene, in many respects, is a reflection and expression of local culture. This article examines the rise of the dance drug scene in a society long associated with opiate use. ⋯ The paper discusses the reasons for the rise and popularity of club drugs in the context of other locally available drugs, in particular, heroin. This discussion draws from three studies that tracked drug use trends from 1995 to 2002 through a variety of data sources, including official statistics, field observations, individual interviews with 20 law enforcement officials, 16 focus groups with outreach and drug treatment workers, teachers, and representatives from different communities, and in-depth interviews with 27 club drug users.
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Persons experiencing pain, whether acute or chronic, seek and deserve relief from their discomfort and loss of function. However, opioid analgesics have the capacity to induce tolerance, physical dependence, and addiction. ⋯ Prescription of opioids could trigger a relapse to the original drug of choice or could initiate a new bout of addiction with the prescribed drug. This article explores the relationship between addiction and pain, including signs of developing addiction and approaches to managing pain in those with addiction.