Miriam Williams Boeri, Ph.D., is an associate professor at Kennesaw State University. Her research focuses on ethnographic data collection and analysis of subcultures considered deviant, including drug subcultures and new religious movements. She holds membership in numerous academic associations, including the Society for Applied Anthropology and the American Sociological Association; she is currently President for the Georgia Sociological Association. She has been project director or project manager on a number of grants for research projects based at Emory University and Georgia State University. She is currently a PI on a NIH grant-funded study on "Methamphetamine Use in the Suburbs: An Exploratory Study," and an ARRA/NIH/NIDA grant-funded study on "Older Drug Users: A Life Course Study of Turning Points in Drug Use and Injection." In addition, she serves as an advisor and collaborator on the socialization program for the Dekalb County Drug Court, an innovative program designed to introduce drug court clients to new social networks.
Articles
Creativity and Cults from Sociological and Communication Perspectives: The Processes Involved in the Birth of a Secret Creative Self (with Karen Pressley), Cultic Studies Review (2010)
We employ three interrelated concepts drawn from sociology and communication theories to explore the processes...
Cold Cook Methods: An Ethnographic Exploration on the Myths of Methamphetamine Production and Policy Implications (with David Gibson and Laim Harbry), International Journal of Drug Policy (2009)
Background
Urban legends and myths are prevalent in drug-use environments. However, the distinction between myth...
A Qualitative Exploration of Trajectories Among Suburban Users of Methamphetamine (with Liam Harbry and David Gibson), Journal of Ethnographic & Qualitative Research (2009)
The goal of this exploratory study was to gain a better understanding of methamphetamine use...
Intergenerational Memories of Life in a Cult: A Life Course Analysis (with Natascia R. Boeri), Journal of Ethnographic & Qualitative Research (2009)
A dearth of literature exists about the effects of former cult involvement on family relationships....
Polydrug Use among Ecstasy Users: Separate, Synergistic and Indiscriminate Patterns (with Claire E. Sterk, Masuma Bahora, and Kirk Elifson), Journal of Drug Issues (2008)
The qualitative analyses of data obtained from the interviews identified three distinct types of polydrug...
Books
An Ethnographic Study of Women Who Use Methamphetamine, Rutgers University Press (under contract) (2010)
Heaven's Harlots: My Fifteen Years As a Sacred Prostitute in the Children of God Cult (1998)
For over 15 years, the elusive Children of God cult leader, Moses David, commanded a...
Contributions to Books
Deviance and Social Control, Teaching and Learning About Deviance: A Resource Guide (2008)
Research Methods Addendum, Peoplization: An Introduction to Social Life (2008)
The Children of God/The Family, Sex and Religion (2004)
External Grants
Methamphetamine Use in the Suburbs: An Exploratory Study (2010)
2010-2011
Award Number: 1R15DA021164-01A1
Principal Investigator: Boeri
Award: $201,000
National Institutes...
Older Drug Users: A Life Course Study of Turning Points in Drug Use and Injection (2009)
2009-2011
Award Number: 1R21DA025298-01A1
Principal Investigator: Boeri
Award: $367,820
American Recovery...
Methamphetamine Use in the Suburbs: An Exploratory Study (2007)
2007-2009
Award Number: 1R15DA021164-01A1
Principal Investigator: Boeri
Award: $180,900
National Institutes...
Presentations
Life History Data Collection from Birth: Technological Advances Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Methods. Roundtable (with Ben Tyndall), American Sociological Association (2010)
Risk Reduction and the Atlanta Harm Reduction Center. Presider/Spotlight Panel, American Sociological Association (2010)
The Atlanta Harm Reduction Center, Inc. is a community-based prevention and wellness organization committed to...
'Stuck in the Bluff:' Obscured Turning Points in Drug User Life Histories. Paper/Presentation (with David Gibson, Craig Rafuse, and Ben Tyndall), Society for the Study of Social Problems (2010)
Social Recovery: An Exploration of Recovery Routes Among Former Methamphetamine Users. Paper/Presentation (with David Gibson), American Sociological Association (2010)
Hegemonic Communication Model: The Power Dynamics in the Emergence of a Secret Creative Self. Paper/Presentation (with Karen Pressley), International Cultic Studies Association (2010)
In this paper, the authors explore the process of personal renaissance through the emergence of...