Potential Risk Factors for Injecting Among Mexican American Non-Injecting Heroin Users

Valdez, Avelardo; Neaigus, Alan; Cepeda, Alice

doi:10.1300/j233v06n02_05

Cited by 11 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…However, the pervasive availability of heroin coupled with the thriving subculture of the tecato lifestyle demonstrates how social context facilitated initiation of heroin, a drug that most would continue using all of their lives. The men in this study grew up in a setting in which heroin was highly visible and readily available, a product of the historic segregation of Latinos into ethnic vice districts throughout the Southwest and other Mexican settlement areas in the United States (Valdez, Neaigus, & Cepeda, 2007). …”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trajectories of Aging Long-Term Mexican American Heroin Injectors

2015

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Objective To examine the applicability of the “maturing out” theory to a sample of aging Mexican American men who are long-term heroin injectors. Method Ethnographic data were collected as part of a cross-sectional study of aging Mexican American heroin users in Houston with 20 current heroin users. Results Findings indicate that dysfunctions that emerge in the heroin lifestyle lead not to cessation but rather to “maturing in,” a specific process of social readjustment that returns the heroin user to a stable maintenance pattern of use instead of a recovery phase. This process of paradoxical maturing out can be attributed to the unconditional social support provided to the heroin user by family, peers, and the tecato subculture embedded in Mexican American communities. Discussion Results highlight the implications for the intersection of heroin-related conditions, natural age-related impairments, and cognitive functioning that make this population increasingly susceptible to adverse health consequences.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trajectories of Aging Long-Term Mexican American Heroin Injectors

2015

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“…Thus, when the socio-ecological environment sees heroin use as normative, cultural values can become negatively directional. Valdez and colleagues found that, specific to heroin use, family-based networks ( familismo and personalismo ) provided for “a paradoxical position of having the highest and lowest propensity for engaging in risk behaviors” and that machismo plays a role in the initiation, cessation, and attempts toward cessation of heroin among Mexican Americans (Valdez, Kaplan, & Cepeda, 2006; Valdez, Kaplan, & Curtis, 2007; Valdez, Neaigus, & Cepeda, 2007; Valdez et al, 2008). More importantly, Casavantes (1976) and Bullington (1977) identified and described examples of these dichotomous associations between cultural values and heroin use going back at least three decades and these trends continue today.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

Flores¹,

Torres

Torres-Vigil

et al. 2014

Substance Use & Misuse

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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.

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“…While these studies have yielded important insights into motivations, risk factors, and drug-specific experiences related to uptake of injection (Ahamad et al, 2014; Bryant and Treloar, 2007; Chami et al, 2013; Cheng et al, 2006; Day et al, 2005; Doherty et al, 2000; Eaves, 2004; Feng et al, 2013; Fuller et al, 2005, 2001, 2003, 2002; Goldsamt et al, 2010; Kermode et al, 2009, 2007; Lankenau et al, 2007, 2012, 2010; Lloyd-Smith et al, 2009; Mackesy-Amiti et al, 2013; Miller et al, 2011, 2006; Novelli et al, 2005; Ompad et al, 2005; Roy et al, 2010, 2011, 2003; Sherman et al, 2005; Small et al, 2009; Trenz et al, 2012; Valdez et al, 2007, 2011; Werb et al, 2013; Wood et al, 2008; Young and Havens, 2011; Young et al, 2014), they have not examined injection initiation extensively from the viewpoint of established PWID who often assist non-injectors into injection drug use. We know little about behaviors among established PWID that may socialize or promote uptake of injection drug use among non-injectors.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Factors associated with being asked to initiate someone into injection drug use

Bluthenthal

Wenger

Chu

et al. 2015

Drug and Alcohol Dependence

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Aims Injection drug use initiation typically involves an established person who injects drugs (PWID) helping the injection-naïve person to inject. Prior to initiation, PWID may be involved in behaviors that elevate injection initiation risk for non-injectors such as describing how to inject and injecting in front of injection-naïve people. In this analysis, we examine whether PWID who engage in either of these behaviors are more likely to be asked to initiate someone into drug injection. Methods Interviews with PWID (N=602) were conducted in California between 2011 and 2013. Multivariate analysis was conducted to determine factors associated with being asked to initiate someone. Results The sample was diverse in terms of age, race/ethnicity, and drug use patterns. Seventy-one percent of the sample had ever been asked to initiate someone. Being asked to initiate someone was associated with having injected in front of non-injectors (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]=1.80, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]=1.12, 2.91), having described injection to non-injectors (AOR=3.63; 95% CI=2.07, 6.36), and doing both (AOR=9.56; 95% CI=4.43, 20.65) as compared to doing neither behavior (referent). Being male (AOR=1.73; 95% CI=1.10, 2.73) and non-injection prescription drug misuse in the last 30 days (AOR=1.69; 95% CI=1.12, 2.53) were also associated with having been asked to initiate someone. Conclusion Reducing initiation into injection drug use is an important public health goal. Intervention development to prevent injection initiation should include established PWID and focus on reducing behaviors associated with requests to initiate injection and reinforcing refusal skills and intentions among established PWID.

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Potential Risk Factors for Injecting Among Mexican American Non-Injecting Heroin Users

Cited by 11 publications

References 46 publications

Trajectories of Aging Long-Term Mexican American Heroin Injectors

Trajectories of Aging Long-Term Mexican American Heroin Injectors

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

Factors associated with being asked to initiate someone into injection drug use

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