"We're Supposed to Be Asleep?" Vigilance, Paranoia, and the Alert Methamphetamine User

Bibliographic Data

ID2996840
AuthorsStacey A Mckenna (University of Colorado Denver, corresponding author)
Year2013
Volume24
Issue2
Pages172-190
Publication date2013-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueAnthropology of Consciousness (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1053-4202 • E-ISSN: 1556-3537
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/anoc.12012
PMID26366049
OpenAlexW1852153822
LanguageEN
Citations received11
References cited22

The stimulant "benefits" of amphetamine and its derivative, methamphetamine, have endured since the drugs first became popular nearly a century ago. The concepts of increasing energy for functional purposes related to work and productivity have been well studied. However, the broader idea of increased alertness, and what this means in the lives of users, has not yet been sufficiently examined. This article draws from ongoing research with active methamphetamine users to explore the perceived benefits, drawbacks, and meanings of remaining alert-awake and vigilant-while most of the world sleeps. The experiences of several users are situated in the contexts of sociostructural and mental health issues that shape cycles of use and meanings of addiction

Addiction · Alertness · Amphetamine · Cognitive psychology · Mental health · Methamphetamine · Paranoia · Psychiatry · Situated · Stimulant · Vigilance (psychology · Computer Science · Mind wandering and attention · Psychedelics and Drug Studies · Psychology · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes

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