Chasing the Dragon: characteristics of heroin chasers

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Abstract
Summary: Little is known about those heroin users who take the drug by inhalation (‘chasing the dragon’). This study investigates patterns of heroin use among a group of chasers, and compares them with injectors. The results suggest that chasing was not merely a pre‐injection phase of heroin use; 87% had been chasers for more than 2 years and 27% for more than 5 years whereas 69% of the injectors had begun using heroin intravenously within 1 year of first use. Chasers were younger than injectors and had started using heroin earlier. Results do not support the suggestion that the move from chasing to injecting is linked to the costs of sustaining a habit. A small group of young black males was seen, all of whom were either exclusively or predominantly heroin chasers. Implications of these results are discussed.