Citation

Valdez A, Cepeda A, Negi NJ, Kaplan C. J. Immigr. Minor. Health 2010; 12(5): 737-742.

Affiliation

Center for Drug and Social Policy Research, Graduate College of Social Work, University of Houston, 110HA Social Work Building, Houston, TX, 77204-4013, USA, avaldez2@uh.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2010, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10903-009-9300-5

PMID

19924538

PMCID

PMC3001040

Abstract

The devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina have contributed to a dynamic demographic shift in the Latino composition of New Orleans. This article focuses on a particularly deleterious pattern of crack cocaine smoking associated with numerous social and health consequences. Utilizing a rapid assessment methodology, in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 52 Latino immigrant day laborers in New Orleans. Findings reveal that the presence of a flourishing drug market has facilitated and maintained patterns of crack use including initiation and periods of daily use. Moreover, feelings of isolation and constant exposure to victimization due to day laborers' marginal status are described as contributing to this use. This qualitative analysis reveals how social processes and contextual factors contribute to crack use among Latino day laborers in a post-disaster context. This study has important public health implications in the spread of HIV and other blood borne pathogens.

Language: en