From “Kickeando las malias” (Kicking the Withdrawals) to “Staying clean”: The Impact of Cultural Values on Cessation of Injection Drug Use in Aging Mexican-American Men

Abstract

Drug use among older adults is a growing concern, particularly for the burgeoning Hispanic population. Older adults seeking drug treatment will double over the next decade to almost 6 million. Cultural factors influence drug use, and more specifically, Hispanic cultural values influence heroin use. This study explored Mexican-American injection drug users' adherence to traditional Hispanic cultural values and their impact on cessation. Ethnographic interviews endorsed contextualized influences of values on heroin use. Cultural values functioned dichotomously, influencing both initiation and cessation. Understanding the impact of cultural values on substance abuse is critical given the changing demographics in American society.

The Perceived Role of Family in Heroin Use Behaviors of Mexican–American Men

“…On the contrary, our findings suggest that familismo may actually pose as a risk factor for addiction. This finding is supported by other research showing that the family environment is a risk factor for heroin relapse [10, 18] and continuation of substance use [31]. Our finding on the paradoxical role of family in both encouraging and discouraging participants’ drug use further reflects the mixed nature of the current literature.…”

“…Thus, the drug use behaviors of Hispanic individuals may be in response to cultural scripts that support or oppose these behaviors. Cultural values have been shown influence both the initiation and cessation of drug use in this population [10]. …”

“If the Barn Is Burning, Let the House Burn as Well”

“…The inability of Russian men to demonstrate subsequent masculinity has been found to be associated with worry, depression, and sleep disorders (Rimashevskaia, 2008). Similar phenomena were reported by Flores et al (2014), who found that cultural values emphasizing masculinity prevented Hispanic drug users from seeking treatment.…”

“…Paradoxically, the same cultural features that lead to heavy drug abuse and impede involvement in treatment, can contribute to higher rates of successful rehabilitation by Russian-speaking patients. This complex relationship between culture and drug addiction was previously mentioned by Flores et al (2014) who suggested that cultural values may both inhibit as well as enable recovery.…”

“…The majority of the participants mentioned immigrant addicts' connection to the Russian-speaking criminal world, which is perceived as separate from the local one. This is compatible with many immigrant users' tendency to integrate in a subculture that maintains a distinct identity and criminal networks (Flores et al, 2014). Although the nature of contemporary Russian crime has undergone several changes, the traditional old-fashioned crime characterized by a strict moral code, hierarchy, and specific jargon is still one of its main foundations (Cheloukhine, 2008).…”