Becoming a problematic consumer of narcotics

Based on participant observation studies of problematic consumers of narcot ics in Stockholm, Sweden, this paper presents a life-history model illumina ting why the research subjects started using narcotics and continued to do so. The model consists of four stages. The first two are initiated before t he individual begins taking drugs, and lead to the development of a drastic ally negative self-image. The third stage consists of consciously breaching societal norms, thereby provoking responses which confirm and consolidate the negative self-image. In the fourth stage still more drastic deviant beh avior and an increasingly negative self-image mutually reinforce each other .