This article focuses on the role of sexuality and intimate relationships during women’s exit processes from drug abuse. Drawing from qualitative interviews with Swedish women the article explores how their sexual practice is played out both during drug use and in the new drug-free life situation. The conflictual transition process evolves around the individual’s attempts to adapt to various sexual scripts made available to them. An element of shame regarding past sexual experiences is enforced by a strong desire to create a new identity as ‘ordinary’. The safest option then is to abstain from sex even if it may lead to frustration and longing. To some, toning down sexuality is a welcome respite, to others a meaningless wait. Why does the beautiful, lovely sexuality never come?
AllanG (1993) Social structure and relationships. In: DuckS (ed.) Social Context and Relationships, London: SAGE, pp. 1–25.
2.
BiernackiP (1986) Pathways from Heroin Addiction, Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press.
3.
BurkeJGThiemanLKGielenAC (2005) Intimate partner violence, substance use and HIV among low income women. Violence Against Women11(9): 1140–1161.
4.
CoffeyAAtkinsonP (1996) Making Sense of Qualitative Data, London: SAGE.
5.
EttoreE (1992) Women and Substance Use, London: Macmillan.
6.
Fuchs-EbaughHR (1988) Becoming an Ex. The Process of Role Exit, Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
7.
GagnonJHSimonW (2005) Sexual Conduct. The Social Sources of Human Sexuality, London: Aldine.
8.
GrahamCASandersSA (2004) Turning on and turning off: A focus group study of the factors that affect women’s sexual arousal. Archives of Sexual Behaviour33: 527–538.
9.
HedinU-CMånssonS-A (1998) Vägen ut! Om kvinnors uppbrott ur prostitution. [The way out! On women leaving prostitution.], Stockholm: Carlsson bokförlag.
10.
HolmesA (1999) The Mental Effects of Heroin, Philadelphia, PA: Chelsea House Publisher.
11.
Holstein JA and Gubrium JF (eds) (2003) Inside Interviewing. New Lenses, New Concerns. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
12.
JoeKA (1995) ‘Ice is strong enough for a man but made for a woman’: A social cultural analysis of crystal methamphetamine use among Asian Pacific Americans. Crime, Law & Social Change22(3): 269–289.
13.
KällK (1995) Sexual behaviour of incarcerated intravenous drug users in stockholm in relation to HIV and HBV transmission. MD Thesis, Stockholm: Karolinska institutet.
14.
LeiblumSR (2010) Treating Sexual Desire Disorders. A Clinical Casebook, New York: Guilford Press.
15.
LorvickJBourgoisPWengerLD (2012) Sexual pleasure and sexual risk among women who use methamphetamine. International Journal of Drug Policy23(5): 385–392.
16.
Löfgren-MårtensonLMånssonS-A (2006) ‘Sex överallt, typ?!’ – Om unga och pornografi. [‘Sex everywhere, kind of?! On youth and pornography.], Stockholm: Förlagshuset Gothia.
17.
McNairB (1996) Mediated Sex, London: Arnold.
18.
McRobbieA (1993) Shut up and dance: Youth culture and changing modes of femininity. Cultural Studies7(3): 406–426.
19.
MeashamF (2002) ‘Doing gender’ – ‘doing drugs’: Conceptualizing the gendering of drugs cultures. Contemporary Drug Problems29(2): 335–373.
20.
MestonCMBussDM (2007) Why humans have sex. Archive of Sexual Behaviour36(4): 477–507.
21.
NealeJNettletonSPickeringL (2012) The Everyday Lives of Recovering Heroin Users, London: RSA.
22.
OstrowD (2000) The role of drugs in the sexual lives of men who have sex with men: Continuing barriers to researching this question. AIDS & Behavior4(2): 205–219.
23.
PalhaAPEstevesMA (2002) A study of the sexuality of opiate addicts. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy28(5): 427–437.
24.
PeughJBelenkoS (2001) Alcohol, drugs and sexual function: A review. Journal of Psychoactive Drugs33(3): 223–232.
25.
PiniM (2007) Women and the early British rave scene. In: McRobbieA (ed.) Back to Reality? Social Experience and Cultural Studies, Manchester and New York: Manchester University Press, pp. 152–169.
26.
RawsonRAWashtonA (2002) Drugs and sexual effects: Role of drug type and gender. Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment22(2): 103–108.
27.
RhodesFDerenSCottlerL (2000) A Multisite Study of HIV Risks in Drug-Using Men Who Have Sex With Men: Focus Group Summaries, Long Beach: California State University Press.
28.
RossMWWilliamsML (2001) Sexual behaviour and illicit drug use. Annual Review of Sex Research12: 290–310.
29.
SanchezDTFetterolfJCRudmanLA (2012) Eroticizing inequality in the United States: The consequences and determinants of traditional gender role adherence in intimate relationships. Journal of Sex Research49(2–3): 168–183.
30.
SempleSJPattersonTLGrantI (2004) Determinants of condom use stage of change among heterosexually-identified methamphetamine users. AIDS and Behaviour8(4): 391–400.
31.
ShapiroH (2003) Waiting for the Man: Story of Drugs and Popular Music, London: Helter Skelter Publishing.
32.
SkårnerA (2001) Skilda världar? En studie av narkotikamissbrukares sociala relationer och sociala nätverk. [Worlds apart? A study of social relationships and social networks among drug addicts.], Göteborg: Göteborgs universitet, Institutionen för socialt arbete.
33.
SkårnerAMånssonS-A (2008) Young people and drugs. On navigation in the drug landscape. European Journal of Social Work11(2): 105–116.
34.
SkårnerASvenssonB (2013) Sexual practices in the amphetamine world. Nordic Studies on Alcohol and Drugs30(5): 403–423.
35.
StallRMcKusickLWileyJ (1986) Alcohol and drug use during sexual activity and compliance with safe sex guidelines for AIDS: The AIDS behavioral research project. Health Education Quarterly13(4): 359–371.
36.
SvenssonB (2007) Pundare, jonkare och andra. [Speedfreaks, Junkies and Others – with Drugs as Companion.], Stockholm: Carlsson bokförlag.
37.
SvenssonBSkårnerA (2014) Sex och narkotika: Mäns erfarenheter under uppbrottsprocessen från ett tungt narkotikamissbruk. [Sex and drugs: Men’s experiences during the exit process from drug abuse.]. Socialvetenskaplig Tidskrift21(2): 94–112.
38.
TaylorA (1993) Women Drug Users, Oxford: Clarendon Press.
39.
WysockiDK (1998) Let your fingers do the talking: Sex on an adult chat-line. Sexualities1(4): 425–452.
40.
ZinbergNE (1984) Drug, Set and Setting, New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
