Long-Term Cocaine Consumption Hidden from Social and Health Institutions: A Qualitative Study Conducted in France, 2007–2009

This article deals with a hidden population of cocaine users. Using qualitative interview data carried out amongst 50 cocaine users, the authors analyze the several steps of the drug-career. While examining the frequency of cocaine consumption, they focus on the settings in which the drug is consumed, the meaning of cocaine use and the collective dynamics underpinning the individuals’ practices.