Voluntary risk-taking and heavy-end crack cocaine use: An edgework perspective

Abstract

Heavy-end drug use is a widely studied and discussed topic, however much of the research within the field considers the phenomenon of use from perspectives of individual or social pathology, devoid of any pleasure or meaning-making potential for the user. This paper seeks to offer an alternative perspective to understanding heavy-end drug use, with specific reference to crack cocaine, to that of the ‘powerless addict’ typically present in the hegemonic discourse. By applying Stephen Lyng's concept of edgework to this high-risk activity, this article will seek to demonstrate the purposeful nature of crack cocaine user for the user. The paper argues that users involve themselves in risk-taking behaviours in order to create meaning in an otherwise meaningless life. Within this context, meaning-making is achieved by honing skills and developing specialist knowledge which enables them to negotiate the ‘edge’ inherent in heavy-end crack cocaine use and control the uncontrollable.

Keywords:

• edgework
• drug use
• crack cocaine
• risk

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge the respondents of this research, whom for reasons of confidentiality cannot be named. Similarly we would like to anonymously thank the members of the focus group and working party members who offered invaluable input into the study. We would also like to acknowledged Professor Robert Hollands and Dr Elaine Campbell, Newcastle University who provided excellent support and guidance throughout the research. A special thanks to Dr Tracy Shildrick who comment on the paper.