Social representation of those who have a problematic use of drugs. Gender and social class approach

The representations of a social fact usually do not match with the proper features of the same.
Nevertheless, the importance of the social representations, in the identification and understanding
of the social phenomenon, are unquestionable.
In the specific case of drug addiction, it is not enough to know objectively the phenomenon
itself, but the necessity to unravel the combination of social representations that configure it.
In this way the prejudice and stereotypes that surround the problem itself emerge, allowing
looking into the psychosocial and cultural aspects of drugs, the problematic use and the reality
of those who use drugs.
It is essential to carry out this task from an integral view that takes in account theinequality
factors that the western society goes through, in general, and in particular the Spanish society
(such as social class, ethnicity, place of origin or sex/gender).
This study identifies the social representation of those who have a problematic use ofdrugs
considering the processes related with gender socialization and social class. This is supported
by information obtained from press reports and workshops based onphotographic images.
The results show, on one hand, that the popular consciousness of drug addicts coincides with
a man with a heroin problematic use. On the other hand, this social representation varies
substantially depending on gender and social class, being more stereotyped and negative in the
case of women and underprivileged people.