Using intensive interviews with 131 female heroin users, this book explores the careers of female heroin users in China under changing social contexts in the reform era. It investigates the impacts of sociological and individual factors on women's heroin use in each developing stage of their drug use careers. It also examines the social consequences of women's heroin use by looking at connections between women's heroin use and criminality, and the change in women's social relations after heroin use. Lastly, the book analyzes and ascertains the impact of current narcotics control policies on women's drug use careers.

This groundbreaking book has important policy implications for both China and the international society in the context of increasing global concern about women's substance abuse.