Session: Substance Use Prevalence and Trajectories Among Diverse Populations: Using Innovation and Social and Geographic Environments for Risk and Harm Reduction (Society for Social Work and Research 21st Annual Conference - Ensure Healthy Development for all Youth)

Background and Purpose: The shifting climate in the United States from a War on Drugs, to a more treatment based approach has several implications for social work research. While previous research has explored the role of harm reduction strategies for reducing risk and disease transmission, more information on the role of innovative harm reduction for diverse populations is needed. In particular, more research is needed to understand how technology may play a role in harm reduction efforts, and how practitioners can utilize social and geographic environments to expand upon existing efforts. The goal of this symposium is to present substance abuse research with diverse populations, while highlighting the role of innovative interventions in harm reduction, by presenting results from three studies examining substance use among historically marginalized adults.

Methods: The first study examines the use of technology in a community oriented public health intervention (Tirando Esquina: Interviniendo Muros de Salud) conducted among active crack smoking adults in Mexico City. Projection mapping was used to target a geographically isolated community with high barriers to treatment. Findings indicate a population of substance users with low rates of HIV/STI knowledge and high rates of drug and sex risk behaviors. In addition, the study indicates the importance of providing efficient and effective HIV prevention services delivery for increasing knowledge within communities that can lead to risk reduction among crack users while increasing health seeking behaviors.

The second study provides qualitative data on the relationship of aging Latinos who inject heroin to other family members and in the communities where they reside. What is distinct about heroin users compared to other groups is that they tend to continue to reside in neighborhoods of origin and retain close connections to family members despite drug abuse, repeated incarceration episodes and other anti-social behaviors. While other studies have focused on how these people who inject drugs (PWID) contribute to the transmission of disadvantage, this study will describe how these long-term drug users connect with families and consider positive and negative consequences of these enduring connections.

The third study explores opiate use transitions among adults utilizing harm reduction services. Quantitative findings indicate differing opiate use trajectories among the participants, while qualitative findings indicate the importance of the innovative peer-based naloxone training program. Results indicate that innovative harm reduction can meet the needs of diverse groups of opiate users, with differing opiate use trajectories.

Conclusions and Implications: The studies in this symposium present information on substance use among historically marginalized and disadvantaged populations in the United States and Mexico. Information from the studies provide a unique perspective of the role of innovative harm reduction strategies with marginalized groups. Innovative approaches to harm reduction have important implications for the Grand Challenges, including advancing long and productive lives, harnessing technology for social good, and creating social responses to a changing environment.