Illuminating the Lived Experience of Crime: Offenders’ Perspectives on Immersion in Methamphetamine

• In Event: The Lived Experiences of People Who Use Methamphetamine

Abstract

An expanding body of research demonstrates the value of qualitative methods for researching drugs and crime. Though once referred to as the “black box,” there is a growing recognition that the offender’s perspective is critical for developing an accurate understanding of criminal involvement, particularly, the lived experiences of crime. This study highlights the types of insightful information that can be obtained through qualitative drug research. In-depth, qualitative interviews were conducted with thirty-three individuals with histories of immersion in the methamphetamine lifestyle. All of the adults had used and dealt methamphetamine, and a majority had participated in manufacturing the drug directly or indirectly. Participants illuminated the complexities inherent in their underlying attractions to methamphetamine and the associated lifestyle. Key findings and the implications for future research will be discussed.

Authors

• Rashi K. Shukla, University of Central Oklahoma

• Danielle Stoneberg, University of Central Oklahoma