THE LIVES AND TIMES OF ASIAN-PACIFIC-AMERICAN WOMEN DRUG-USERS - AN ETHNOGRAPHIC STUDY OF THEIR METHAMPHETAMINE USE

Although Asian-Pacific Americans have a long history in American socie ty and represent the fastest growing minority group, they remain a rel atively ''unknown'' and ''obscure'' population. In particular, while e thnic myths about Asian women continue to persist, ranging from the er otic Oriental beauty to the evil dragon lady to the obedient wife and mother, the complexities of the lives of Asian-Pacific American women remain a mystery. Such myths create a number of barriers to understand ing the problems of their everyday life including coping and stress, f inancial worries, family conflict, and drug use. This article represen ts the first ethnographic account of Asian-Pacific American women drug users, and specifically explores their onset and patterns of drug use and coping strategies in relation to the competing cultural claims on their lives.