Experiences of and Attitudes Toward Injecting Drug Use Among Marginalized African Migrant and Refugee Youth in Melbourne, Australia

Abstract

Little is known about injecting drug use (IDU) among people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds in Australia. We interviewed 18 young people of African ethnicity (6 current/former injectors, 12 never injectors) about exposure and attitudes to IDU. Exposure to IDU was common, with IDU characterized as unnatural, risky and immoral. IDU was highly stigmatized and hidden from family and friends. There is a need for culturally appropriate programs to promote open dialogue about substance use to reduce stigma and prevent African youth who may use illicit drugs from becoming further marginalized.

KEYWORDS:

• injecting drug use
• culturally and linguistically diverse communities
• refugee health
• Africa
• youth
• qualitative research

Acknowledgments

DH is supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award, and receives additional support from the NHMRC-funded Centre for Research Excellence into Injecting Drug Use (CREIDU), based at the Burnet Institute. PH is supported by a Curtin University Research Fellowship. PD is supported by an Australian Research Council Future Fellowship. The project was supported by funding from CREIDU. The funding bodies played no role in the study design, data analysis or preparation of the manuscript for publication.

The authors gratefully acknowledge the contribution to this work of the Victorian Operational Infrastructure Support Program. The National Drug Research Institute at Curtin University is supported by funding from the Australian Government under the Substance Misuse Prevention and Service Improvements Grants Fund.