The Lives and Times of Asian-Pacific American Women Drug Users: An Ethnographic Study of Their Methamphetamine Use

Abstract

Although Asian-Pacific Americans have a long history in American society and represent the fastest growing minority group, they remain a relatively “unknown” and “obscure” population. In particular, while ethnic myths about Asian women continue to persist, ranging from the erotic 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 understanding the problems of their everyday life including coping and stress, financial worries, family conflict, and drug use. This article represents 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.