Avelardo Valdez1, Charles Kaplan2, Kathryn M Nowotny3, Guillermina Natera-Rey4, Alice Cepeda2. 1. School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Electronic address: a.valdez@usc.edu. 2. School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. 3. Department of Sociology & Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA. 4. Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría, Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz, Mexico City, Mexico.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Recent studies in Mexico have documented a significant increase in crack cocaine use, indicating the potential for an emerging drug epidemic. METHODS: Ethnographic observations and interviews were used describe the profiles and patterns of use among street-recruited crack users in Mexico City. The data came from an international research collaboration funded by the National Institutes of Health. RESULTS: A polythetic typology was developed based on five dimensions central to categorizing patterns of crack use behavior: frequency of use, duration of use, context, social networks, and social contracts. Four types of users were discovered applying these dimensions: dabblers, stable users, crack heads, and old heads. Although several similarities were documented between patterns of crack use in Mexico and those in the United States and Western Europe, several key aspects distinguished crack users in this population: (1) self-regulated use; (2) non-linear progression of crack; and (3) the influence of the dimensions pertaining to setting, social networks, and social contract as contributing to understanding of the previous two. Further, we provide a discussion of how specific contextual factors in Mexico may be giving rise to these emerging patterns. CONCLUSION: Compared to the U.S. and Europe, this study finds that the majority of crack users were able to self-regulate their use without major disruption to daily social functioning. As crack use spreads in Mexico and other Latin American countries, we need to recognize the importance of social context in developing more tailored health and social responses that are specific to these developing countries.
BACKGROUND: Recent studies in Mexico have documented a significant increase in crack cocaine use, indicating the potential for an emerging drug epidemic. METHODS: Ethnographic observations and interviews were used describe the profiles and patterns of use among street-recruited crack users in Mexico City. The data came from an international research collaboration funded by the National Institutes of Health. RESULTS: A polythetic typology was developed based on five dimensions central to categorizing patterns of crack use behavior: frequency of use, duration of use, context, social networks, and social contracts. Four types of users were discovered applying these dimensions: dabblers, stable users, crack heads, and old heads. Although several similarities were documented between patterns of crack use in Mexico and those in the United States and Western Europe, several key aspects distinguished crack users in this population: (1) self-regulated use; (2) non-linear progression of crack; and (3) the influence of the dimensions pertaining to setting, social networks, and social contract as contributing to understanding of the previous two. Further, we provide a discussion of how specific contextual factors in Mexico may be giving rise to these emerging patterns. CONCLUSION: Compared to the U.S. and Europe, this study finds that the majority of crack users were able to self-regulate their use without major disruption to daily social functioning. As crack use spreads in Mexico and other Latin American countries, we need to recognize the importance of social context in developing more tailored health and social responses that are specific to these developing countries.
Authors: Richard H Needle; Robert T Trotter; Merrill Singer; Christopher Bates; J Bryan Page; David Metzger; Louis H Marcelin Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2003-06 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Jesus Bucardo; Kimberly C Brouwer; Carlos Magis-Rodríguez; Rebeca Ramos; Miguel Fraga; Saida G Perez; Thomas L Patterson; Steffanie A Strathdee Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2005-04-01 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: Alice Cepeda; Jessica Frankeberger; Jennifer L Bailey; Kathryn M Nowotny; Guillermina Natera-Rey; Avelardo Valdez Journal: AIDS Care Date: 2016-11-10