“I Can Combine Those Things to be a Superhero” a Qualitative Study of the Motivations for High-Risk Polysubstance Use

Amanda M. Bunting; Adetayo Fawole; Brittany Griffin; Joshua D. Lee; Carrie B. Oser; Jennifer McNeely

doi:10.1177/00220426241277763

“I Can Combine Those Things to be a Superhero” a Qualitative Study of the Motivations for High-Risk Polysubstance Use

Amanda M. Bunting
, Adetayo Fawole
, Brittany Griffin
, Joshua D. Lee
, Carrie B. Oser
, Jennifer McNeely

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

The current study aimed to understand motivations of high-risk polysubstance use. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in New York City with 20 individuals with frequent recent polysubstance use. Two analysts coded the interviews (κ = 93.97). Five themes related to motivation for polysubstance use were found: (1) balance, prolong, or enhance effects, (2) self-medicate physical ailments, (3) cope with emotional distress, (4) drug-induced cravings, and (5) responding to social contexts. Individuals reported simultaneous or sequential co-use to balance, prolong or enhance a ‘high’ (theme 1). Participants engaged in polysubstance use to alleviate withdrawal symptoms, to induce sleep and self-medicate physical pain (theme 2) and to provide relief from emotional distress (theme 3). Other themes included drug-induced cravings (theme 4) and responding to social contexts (theme 5) including both social situations and economic availability. Motivations for polysubstance use may provide important insight into harm reduction and treatment settings solutions.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	188-203
Number of pages	16
Journal	Journal of Drug Issues
Volume	56
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1177/00220426241277763
State	Published - Jan 2026

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024

Funding

The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health NIDA K01DA053435 (AMB). The opinions expressed are those of the authors.

Funders	Funder number
National Institutes of Health (NIH)	K01DA053435
National Institutes of Health (NIH)

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

motivations
overdose
polysubstance use
qualitative
self-medication

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Health(social science)
Medicine (miscellaneous)
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Psychiatry and Mental health

Access to Document

10.1177/00220426241277763

Cite this

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AU - Oser, Carrie B.

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“I Can Combine Those Things to be a Superhero” a Qualitative Study of the Motivations for High-Risk Polysubstance Use

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Funding

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

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Cite this