ROLE OF LANGUAGE IN FRAMING DRUG ADDICTS IDENTITY IN KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA, PAKISTAN

Abstract

This study explores how language shapes the identities of drug using individuals in Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with particular attention to its role in negotiating stigma, belonging, and social positioning. Drawing on Critical Discourse Analysis, Social Identity Theory, and Politeness Theory, the study examines how code switching and language mixing in a multilingual context influence participants’ self-presentation and identity construction. Data were collected through semi structured interviews with twelve participants representing four substance user groups. The interviews were conducted in Pashto, Urdu, Hindko, and English, reflecting the participants’ multilingual linguistic practices. Using Dey’s (1993) six-stage framework for qualitative data analysis, the findings reveal that language functions both as a shield and a bridge. Euphemisms, humour, and digital codes enable participants to manage stigma and protect their self-image, while shared slang, nicknames, and multilingual switching contribute to group solidarity and a sense of belonging. The study highlights the central role of linguistic choices in constructing and negotiating fluid identities across overlapping cultural, clinical, and digital contexts. The findings contribute to sociolinguistic research on language, identity, and stigma and offer practical implications for clinicians, counsellors, and policymakers seeking to develop stigma sensitive and linguistically informed interventions