Ethnic Minority Use of Illegal Drugs in Glasgow, Scotland: Potential Difficulties for Service Provision

Abstract

The use of illegal drugs by members of ethnic minority groups in Scotland has never been the subject of research until now. A separate, prior, small quantitative survey established that young male members of Scottish ethnic minority groups do, indeed, use illegal drugs, although to a lesser degree than did members of a broadly comparable group of white male age peers. This paper reports a qualitative study which traced distinct patterns of ethnic minority drug use, and various perceptual barriers which hinder ethnic minority help-seeking for drug problems. Those studied experienced problems with drug use which related both to their racial background, and to racism in modern Scotland. The implications for service provision are discussed.