Abstract

This study aimed to comparatively analyze the drug access and abuse processes of emerging adult drug users by categorizing them into two types based on their access pathways: relationally initiated users and independently initiated users. Participants were selected through reputational case selection to ensure alignment with the research objective. In-depth interviews were conducted, and the data were analyzed using the constant comparison method, involving open coding, categorization, and category verification. The derived categories were named based on the context and meaning of the participant’s experience in a phenomenological perspective. The analysis yielded a total of five major categories: “Ties entangled within the heart,” “The subtle grip of addiction drawing near,” “The bond linking my heart to drugs,” “Bound together with drugs,” and “Life shackled by drugs.” Among these, “Ties entangled within the heart” and “The subtle grip of addiction drawing near” commonly appeared in both types, while the other three major categories showed structurally significant differences that were repeatedly observed between relationally initiated users and independently initiated users. These findings provide a structured understanding of emerging adults’ drug use experiences and suggest the need for tailored prevention and intervention strategies based on access pathways.