Avoiding the stigma. A qualitative study of socially included women's experiences of drug use and dealing, health services and the police in France

The figure of drug user and dealer is stigmatized, linked to violence illness. This due a reductionist discourse which implements othering processes generating scapegoat figures in the world. All users sellers are assimilated with these spoiled identities media or policies, while reality much more diverse. article draws on relational sociology focus who antithesis stereotypes: socially integrated women use sell drugs (WUSD) invisible health control enforcement agencies. By seeking avoid stigma user's dealer's identities, how do included WUSD distance themselves from agencies institutions? qualitative research based 26 semi-structured interviews conducted France. Participants were recruited using snowball sampling strategy. It appears that participants normalized their it into professional personal lives. Some user-dealers had social supply practices, selling they used friends order finance consumption. None have ever been contact harm reduction addiction services, both because not identify services designed support this population. With police, play gender games show inclusion protect arrest. In cases, stigmatized seller alienate systems One consequences process invisibility those want be identified as “others” by law services. Rethinking policy essential reach populations may need information support.