intersection Archives

The Authors’ Own Words:

We ask authors to describe their impressions regarding the implications of their accepted work, how their findings will change practice, and what is noteworthy about the work.

The intersection of women’s sexual pleasure and injection drug use

Caroline Katzman, BA & Ellen Tuchman, MSW, PhD

Substance Abuse Vol. 40, Iss. 2, 2019

“After conducting a thorough literature search, I found that most research about women who inject drugs focuses primarily on health risks, sex work, and interpersonal violence, with no mention of female pleasure or agency. When I began reading through these semi-structured qualitative interviews, I knew immediately that these women’s voices needed to be heard. Their voices were strong, their agency was clear, and they provided a positive viewpoint about sexual pleasure and relationships that has not yet been considered. We must share the nuances of all women’s perspectives to help shape our interventions because no intervention can be “one-size-fits-all.” It is imperative to understand the diversity in patient perspectives and experiences to help our patients stay healthy and safe.“