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Objective: Crack cocaine use has increased rapidly throughout Mexico, along with rising HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among vulnerable groups. The Tirando Esquina: Interviniendo Muros de Salud (TE:IMS) project uses projection-mapping technology and is the first of its kind to reach and provide health education at an individual and community level to at-risk crack smoking populations in Mexico City. Setting: This intervention project took place in Mexico City. Design: A single-arm design was utilised. Method: The TE:IMS intervention used projection mapping, a community-based art form wherein 3-dimensional (3-D) images, videos and graphics are projected onto buildings in the community. A total of nine projection mapping episodes were projected and health promoters engaged individuals on the street to reinforce messaging and distribute safer crack kits. A sample of persons who use crack (n = 58) were recruited prior to the intervention to complete pretest–posttest evaluation questionnaires. Results: Findings provide evidence of initial effectiveness. Decreases pre- to posttest were found in weekly crack use (p <.05), sharing of paraphernalia (p =.002) and use of cans as pipes (p =.008), while increases were observed in the usage of Pyrex pipes (p =.002). While quantitative HIV knowledge assessments did not increase significantly, qualitative data suggest the intervention made a substantial impact on perceptions and knowledge of HIV among those who interacted with the health promoters and saw the projections. Conclusions: TE: IMS was successful in providing health education and harm reduction strategies at a community level to at-risk crack smoking populations in Mexico City. These findings provide evidence for the initial effectiveness of innovative education and harm reduction efforts in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hispanics are disproportionately affected by substance use and related health harms yet remain underrepresented across scientific disciplines focused on researching and addressing these issues. An interdisciplinary network of scientists committed to fostering the development of social and biomedical researchers focused on Hispanic substance use and health disparities developed innovative mentoring and career development activities. We conducted a formative evaluation study using anonymous membership and conference feedback data to describe specific mentoring and career development activities developed within the national network. Successful mentoring initiatives and career development activities were infused with cultural and community values supportive of professional integration and persistence. Mentoring initially occurred within an annual national conference and was then sustained throughout the year through formal training programs and informal mentoring networks. Although rigorous evaluation is needed to determine the success of these strategies in fostering long-term career development among scientists conducting Hispanic health and substance use research, this innovative model may hold promise for other groups committed to promoting career development and professional integration and persistence for minority (and non-minority) scientists committed to addressing health disparities.

Reports indicate that the criminal victimization of Latino immigrants in the United States has been increasing yet is often underreported. This may be especially true in new immigrant settlement cities that lack an established Latino community to provide support and feelings of security. New Orleans is an important context to investigate criminal victimization as it has experienced a large demographic shift in Latino composition post-Hurricane Katrina. This ethnographic study elucidates the social processes and structural factors that contribute to the criminal victimization of Latino day laborers (LDLs) in New Orleans. Three emergent social processes associated to criminal victimization are discussed, including: (1) distinct settlement process; (2) chaos of the setting and lifestyle; and (3) high-risk exposure. LDLs' experiences of crime victimization are also explored. Findings reveal distinct structural factors associated to new immigrant settlement cities that contribute to the heightened vulnerability of LDLs.

Objective: This study assessed the effectiveness of an adapted Brief Strategic Family Therapy (BSFT) intervention for gang-affiliated Mexican American adolescents and their parents. Methods: A total of 200 adolescents and their family caregivers were randomized to either a treatment or a control condition. Outcomes included adolescent substance use, conflict resolution, gang identification, parent substance use knowledge, gang awareness, family cohesion, child conduct problems and stress. Participants were assessed at baseline, treatment exit at 16 weeks, and 6 months follow-up. General linear mixed-effects and generalized estimating equations models were used to evaluate between-group differences in outcomes. Results: There were significant differences between the BFST and control groups on adolescent alcohol use at 6 months and parents' reported conduct problems. No impact on marijuana use was found. Conclusions: Results provide emerging evidence supporting the adapted BSFT for gang-affiliated Mexican American adolescents and their families for alcohol and behavioral outcomes. Future adaptations may be needed to reduce drug use. (Contains 3 figures and 3 tables.)

Little is known about the experiences of minority stress among Latina women who have sex with both women and men (WSWM), a sexual and gender minority group situated at the intersection of multiple marginalized identities. The current article presents an exploratory study aimed at addressing this knowledge gap. The research utilized a flexible diary-interview method (DIM) to investigate stress-related experiences among Mexican American WSWM residing in an economically disadvantaged community in the U.S. during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. A detailed description of the study is provided, including information on the background, methodology, participants' experiences, and how the project was managed remotely by a virtual research team. Twenty-one participants were asked to maintain a diary for a 6-week period spanning from March to September 2021. They submitted weekly entries in diverse formats (visual, audio, typed, and handwritten) through a user-friendly website or via mail while communicating regularly with researchers over the phone. Following the diarizing period, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted to clarify pertinent information within the entries and validate researchers' preliminary interpretations. Out of the initial 21 enrollees, 14 participants stopped diarizing at different stages, and nine completed the entire study. Despite facing challenges exacerbated by the pandemic, participants reported the diary-keeping process as a positive experience that offered an authentic outlet to share parts of their lives they seldom reveal. The implementation of this study highlights two significant methodological insights. Firstly, it emphasizes the value of employing a DIM to explore intersectional narratives. Secondly, it underscores the importance of adopting a flexible and sensitive approach in qualitative health research, particularly when engaging individuals from minoritized groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This qualitative research examined risk-taking behavior among Mexican American adolescent girls who are not formal gang members but are associated with male gangs. Findings illustrate how outcomes associated with sexual relations, partying, substance use, and crime vary according to the girl's relationship with the male gang and status within the community. Regardless of relationship, participation in these activities resulted in different degrees of negative outcomes. (Author/KB)

Knowledge about the motivations for crack cocaine use and the long-term effects among people who inject heroin is limited. This study aims to understand motivations associated with this co-use drug pattern among aging men entrenched in established intergenerational heroin subcultures. A sample of 60 men with diverse injecting heroin use histories was recruited from low-income Mexican American urban communities for semi-structured ethnographic interviews using respondent-driven sampling. Qualitative analysis was then employed to provide an in-depth understanding of patterns and motivations of polydrug use among this older population. The men discussed motivations including tolerance, curiosity and experimentation, a paradox of affordability, alternatives to the health hassles and stigma, and the cross-fertilization of drug markets. Concurrent and switching use patterns were primarily reported among those seeking a new or different high, while replacement patterns were reported by men in methadone treatment or by those who had tired of injection. Findings translate to the on-going opioid crisis and the emerging trend in polysubstance use involving crack cocaine, methamphetamine and other psychostimulants among people who use heroin. More research is needed to investigate the full range of social and health consequences associated with these co-use patterns. Targeted and tailored prevention and treatment services are essential to improve outcomes among aging Mexican American men who use heroin and other persons with similar polydrug use patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite growing research on women's offending trajectories, knowledge on the imprisonment experiences of women who are mothers is limited. This study used a nationally representative dataset of state and federal prisoners to identify and characterize subgroups of mothers based on incarceration histories. Group-based trajectory modeling identified four groups with distinct incarceration trajectories: stable escalating group, moderate declining group, adolescence-peak group, and young-adulthood-peak group. Bivariate analyses then suggested that different incarceration trajectories were associated with adverse life experiences (i.e., foster care placement, sexual abuse experience) and confinement experiences (i.e., number of episodes of prison confinement). Discussed are the future research directions and implications for criminal justice policies and interventions targeting imprisoned mothers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There exists an extensive theoretical discourse regarding Social Disorganization Theory about the presence or lack of social control in marginalized poor communities. Mexico City’s colonias populares, or informal housing settlements, are an important case in point given the chaotic, ungovernable, social disorder that is perceived by outsiders. In the present ethnographic study, we applied Suttles’ (1968) concept of social order with the intention to identify and understand the social processes by which relationships between criminal networks and conventional residents contribute to a cohesive community social structure. Using interview and observational data collected throughout five years, the findings support a social system defined by an ordered segmentation that facilitates inclusion and social solidarity among diverse residents. Through commercial, recreational, and religious celebrations, a practical morality emerged that governed social interactions among residents in this impoverished neighborhood at the periphery of society. Practical morality is exemplified by the relationships within a community connected by neighborhood-based networks, rather than formal institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has recently been growing attention and concern in the U.S. on the detrimental drug use and related health conditions impacting diverse sexual minority populations. While some evidence indicates that bisexual women are at increased risk of substance use, little attention has been given to disadvantaged and racial/ethnic minority bisexual women, who are particularly vulnerable to a complexity of stressors and risk. Using data from a 15-year longitudinal study in San Antonio, Texas, the current study examines drug use, incarceration histories, stressful life events, and infections among 206 young adult Mexican-American women who report engaging in sex with both men and women (WSWM) (n = 61) and those indicating having exclusively male sex partners (WSM) (n = 145). A bivariate analysis finds that WSWM experienced more frequent (p = 0.001) and longer total time incarcerated (p = 0.001), as well as exposure to more stressful life events (p = 0.003). WSWM also have higher rates of past 30 day injection drug use (p = 0.026) and related Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infection (p = 0.001), as well as greater symptomatology associated with depression (p = 0.014), PTSD (p = 0.005), and suicidal ideation (p = 0.036). Findings indicate a significantly elevated risk profile for socio-economically marginalized WSWM. This knowledge is timely and central to policy discourse to develop interventions and health campaigns aimed at reducing and/or preventing further health disparities among this highly susceptible population of minority women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Crack cocaine use has increased rapidly throughout Mexico, coinciding with rising HIV and HCV infections among vulnerable groups. Due to the increased risk of infection among crack users, harm reduction approaches have been identified to reduce the spread of disease. However, Mexico has yet to adopt these techniques for crack users. Objectives: To evaluate the impact of a pilot crack kit distribution program on risky smoking behaviors of active crack users in an impoverished colonia of Mexico City, Mexico. Methods: Fifty crack kits, containing safer smoking paraphernalia and related health items (i.e., condoms, alcohol wipes, etc.), were distributed to active crack users. A sample of 58 crack users were surveyed prior to the intervention and 35 were successfully relocated and surveyed three months after the intervention. Surveys assessed drug use, crack kit utilization, and smoking practices. Results: Findings indicate that crack kit utilization was high throughout the sample. Use of risky or unsafe paraphernalia decreased, specifically the use of cans as pipes (Z = −2.653, p = .008). Similarly, Pyrex pipe use increased significantly (Z = −3.132, p = .002). Sharing of paraphernalia also decreased throughout the sample. Conclusion: These findings identify the potential benefits in reducing risky smoking behaviors of crack kit distribution programs in Mexico City. This evidence supports expansion of crack kit programs in Mexico and similar impoverished regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is among the most prevalent sexually transmitted infections in the United States. Despite this, there has been limited research on the correlates to HSV-2 among disadvantaged and marginalized women, particularly among Latinas. Data for the present analysis include 125 young adult Mexican-American women enrolled in a longitudinal study in a disadvantaged urban community in San Antonio, Texas. The current rate of tested HSV-2 infection is 56.8%. Our findings suggest strong comorbidity of genital herpes with injecting heroin use, Hepatitis C, sexual violence, incarceration, and mental illness. Contributing to this population's nexus of risk are the low rates of health service utilization among those infected with HSV-2. Integration between behavioral health and primary care, including access to preventative services, are essential for improving the health of Latinas living in disadvantaged neighborhoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a pervasive problem that has been linked to numerous developmental, social, health, and substance use consequences. Nevertheless, the relationship between CSA and the consumption of psychoactive substances has not been adequately studied in Mexico. The present study aims to examine this association between history of CSA and illicit substance use and associated risk behaviors in a sample of young adult women in Mexico City. Design and Methods: The present study uses a cross-sectional design to examine sexual abuse history among women who use illicit substances. Data collection consisted of a questionnaire administered through face-to-face interviews with 101 women who sought treatment for substance use in Mexico City. A bivariate analysis was used to examine women who experienced sexual abuse and those who did not. Odds ratio and relative risk were estimated. Results: A total of 101 women were interviewed with an average age of 19.2 years. The average age of onset of drug use was 15.4 years. Among participants, 68% reported having been victims of sexual abuse and rape. The average age of reported sexual abuse was 12.2 years. Participants reported a high rate of polydrug use (32.7%), consuming more than two drugs. Sexual abuse was associated with detention by police for drugs, forced prostitution, and consumption of substances during pregnancy. Discussion and conclusions: This study found that sexual abuse and rape were highly associated with substance abuse outcomes and associated risk behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use a risk environment framework to qualitatively examine pathways into substance use and abuse among Mexican female sex workers on the U.S.-Mexico border. Life history interviews and ethnographic observations were conducted with female sex workers to uncover how the border context shapes patterns of substance use. The findings illustrate that, for many women, initiation into sex work is contextualized within immigration, the global economy, and demands and desire for financial autonomy. Paradoxically, many find autonomy within sex work as they increase their ability to support their families and themselves. As women become more entrenched in sex work, however, they are put on a path toward substance abuse beginning with alcohol then cocaine and heroin. This identification of specific substance use pathways and trajectories has important implications for the development of prevention and intervention programs that can help curtail problematic drug use that can lead to negative health consequences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research has documented crack cocaine’s increasing spread in Mexico, which is likely to contribute to the rapid transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). In Mexico, crack use is increasing most rapidly in vulnerable, hard-to-reach populations, where little is known about risk behaviors. This report aims to present baseline data regarding HIV and STI knowledge and testing prevalence from an innovative projection mapping HIV intervention, in which 3-D illusions, animation, and visual text graphics and sound are projected onto buildings with health messages that were designed to disrupt everyday life and connect with the target population. Fifty-eight men and women who used crack in the past month without receiving drug treatment were recruited and interviewed before the projection mapping intervention took place. Testing instruments included a sociodemographic assessment, drug use and treatment profile, HIV and STI knowledge questionnaires, and a sex and drug risk assessment. The mean scores for respondents on the HIV Knowledge Questionnaire (10.5 out of 18, 58.3%) and STD Knowledge Questionnaire (9.5 out of 27, 35.2%) were both low. Respondents also reported high rates of sexual risk behaviors, with 73% reporting never using a condom and 64% never being tested for HIV. This report provides a portrait of STI and HIV risk among a vulnerable population in Mexico City and the need for urgent interventions to prevent the spread of STIs and HIV. The associated projection mapping intervention will seek to increase HIV and STI knowledge and reduce risk in this hard-to-reach population. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Research has found that among juveniles weak ties to informal social control entities such as parents, school, and conventional peers increase the probability of the initiation and continuation of deviant behaviors such as drug use and crime. Given the weak ties of formal social control mechanisms in highly disadvantaged communities, informal social control mechanisms are often an important deterrent that reduce or moderate engagement in deviant behaviors among serious and persistent offenders. This analysis examines the association between long-term gang membership and adolescent informal social control processes, drug use, and delinquency. This research is based on data from a study of 160 Mexican American male gang members between the ages of 16 and 20. Findings suggest that among gang members in this context, commonly studied informal control mechanisms such as the family and schools do not function to deter long-term gang membership that is associated with serious criminal and violent behavior and drug use. The implications for future research on desistance or continuation of antisocial behavior across the life course are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study examines patterns of multimorbidity among elderly male inmates across four domains of health (chronic medical conditions, drug- and alcohol-related diseases, impairments, and mental and behavioral health) to understand the complex health care needs of this growing population. Method: We use the 2004 Survey of Inmates in State Correctional Facilities and Latent Class Regression Analysis to examine 22 health problems among 1,026 men aged 50 and older. Results: There are four groups of elderly male inmates: (a) relatively healthy (45.1%), (b) substance users with behavioral health issues (23.4%), (c) chronic unhealthy with impairments and violence/injury (23.6%), and (d) very unhealthy across all domains (7.9%). These groups have unique sociodemographic background and incarceration history characteristics. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the complexity of health for elderly inmates. Prison health should continue to be monitored to aid correctional and community health programs in understanding clinical risks, exposures, and health care needs for this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the past decade, crack smoking has increased in Mexico among poor urban populations. Despite this increasing prevalence, little is known about the types of paraphernalia used and related sharing practices and physical harms. Data come from in-depth semi-structured interviews and observations with 156 current crack smokers in Mexico City. Findings reveal a complex, crack-smoking process in Mexico City that represents an interconnected structure of paraphernalia items and pipes that could contribute to detrimental health consequences. Specifically, we identify essential paraphernalia items that make the smoking of crack possible; describe the homemade construction of two categories of pipes; and detail the sharing practices and physical harms associated with these paraphernalia. Results point towards a smoking process that is embedded in impoverished urban neighborhoods sustained by an accessible street-level crack market. Discussed are the policy and intervention implications associated with reducing crack-related health consequences in Mexico and other Latin American countries. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This paper examines the association between childhood trauma and gang membership. Specifically, this study compares histories of potentially traumatic events as assessed by the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire among a street-recruited random sample of Mexican American male gang members and a matched comparison group of delinquent youth. The gang and delinquent youth samples are then compared to normative samples of adolescent male psychiatric inpatients and male undergraduates. The findings show that gang members generally report experiencing lower levels of childhood trauma compared to those in the sample of delinquent youth. In fact, gang members' levels of childhood trauma more closely resemble those of the undergraduate sample. However, this analysis suggests that gang membership, and delinquency in general, may be associated with physical neglect. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Key Practitioner Messages: Childhood trauma prevalence and delinquent youth comparison groups are rare in gang research., Childhood trauma rates (emotional, physical and sexual abuse) were found to be lower among a sample of gang-involved Mexican American males compared to non-gang delinquent youth., Levels of physical neglect should be assessed for in youth regardless of gang membership., Future research should focus on family-level sociocultural interventions that may be beneficial for gang-involved youth and trauma-informed interventions that may be particularly beneficial for delinquent youth in low-income communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Both injecting drug users (IDU) and sex workers are at great risk of contracting and transmitting HIV. Therefore, IDU sex workers could be at especially high risk. The recent increase of HIV infection in Mexico has caused increased attention to sex work. We identify the correlates of injecting drug use including socio-demographic, work history, and sexual and non-injecting drug use risk behaviors among Mexican female sex workers. There is a high risk profile for IDUs compared to never injectors including a high prevalence of lifetime STI infection (54.2%). Revealed is an environment composed of high-risk networks that may have serious binational public health implications. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We examined drug-scene familiarity and exposure to gang violence among residents of a migrant farming community in rural Baja California, Mexico. In October 2010, 164 members of a singlecolonia(community) underwent an interviewer-administered survey to assess ‘exposure to gang violence’ and ‘drug-scene familiarity’, as well as other health indicators. Logistic regression was used to identify correlates of exposure to gang violence. Overall, 20% of participants were male, the median age was 27 years, 24% spoke an indigenous language, 42% reported exposure to gang violence and 39% reported drug-scene familiarity. Factors independently associated with exposure to gang violence included being younger (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] =0.80 per 5-year increase, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.67–0.96), living in the community longer (AOR=1.47 per 5-year increase, 95% CI=1.11–1.72), higher educational attainment (AOR=1.70 per 5-year increase, 95% CI=1.07–1.12) and drug-scene familiarity (AOR=5.10, 95% CI=2.39–10.89). Exposure to gang violence was very common in this community and was associated with drug-scene familiarity, suggesting a close relationship between drugs and gang violence in this rural community. In a region characterised by mass migration from poorer parts of Mexico, where drugs and gangs have not been previously reported, emerging social harms may affect these communities unless interventions are implemented. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Abstract: Rationale: A growing body of research has revealed disparities with respect to drug use patterns within Latino subgroups. However, the extent to which these potential disparities enable different Latino subgroups to respond favorably to treatment is unclear. Methods: This study analyzed a subset of multicross-sectional data (2006–2009) on Latinos collected from publicly funded facilities in Los Angeles County, CA (N =12,871). We used multilevel logistic regressions to examine individual and service-level factors associated with treatment completion among subgroups of first-time Latino treatment clients. Results: Univariate analysis showed that Cubans and Puerto Ricans were less likely to complete treatment than Mexicans and other Latinos. Cubans and Puerto Ricans entered treatment at an older age and with higher formal education than Mexicans, yet they were more likely to report mental health issues and use of cocaine and heroin as primary drugs of choice respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that age, having mental health issues, reporting high use of drugs at intake, and use of methamphetamines and marijuana were associated with decreased odds of completing treatment among all Latino subgroups. In contrast, age at first drug use, treatment duration, and referral monitoring by the criminal system increased the odds of completing treatment for all members. Conclusion: These findings have implications for targeting interventions for members of different Latinos groups during their first treatment episode. Promising individual and service factors associated with treatment completion can inform the design of culturally specific recovery models that can be evaluated in small-scale randomized pilot studies. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The purpose of this study is to examine the prevalence of childhood trauma in a sample of female sex workers in Mexico. One hundred and nine female sex workers were recruited from Nuevo Laredo and Ciudad Juarez and administered the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Findings reveal a high prevalence rate of childhood trauma among the total sample (94%). Nuevo Laredo sex workers had significantly higher total mean and subscale scores and levels of severity compared to Ciudad Juarez sex workers. This research is important because it examines the extent of childhood trauma among sex workers in a developing country. Moreover, it contributes to the few existing studies on sex workers that have documented the circumstances and factors unique to rural and urban environments. These results underline the importance of early identification of childhood trauma and implementation of appropriate prevention, intervention, and policies that might reduce these females' trajectory into sex work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines childhood trauma, depression and psychological family and cultural stress among Mexican American male non-injecting users (NIU) of heroin in San Antonio, Texas. The research enhances the findings from a National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) study, "Drug Related Gang Violence in South Texas", conducted from 1995-1997. A high rate of non-injecting heroin use among these young male Mexican-American gang members emerged as a special concern because of the serious health consequences associated with non-injecting heroin use. HIV and AIDS among Hispanics are attributed primarily to injecting drug use, followed by sexual transmission among heterosexuals and male-to-male sexual contact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on changing patterns of substance use among low income, African American drug users evacuated from New Orleans, Louisiana, during Hurricane Katrina of August 2005. It examines the relationship between increases and decreases in alcohol and tobacco (AT) use and illicit drug (ID) use after Katrina and pre-disaster and within-disaster factors. Data from structured interviews with 200 Katrina evacuees currently living in Houston were collected 8–14 months after the disaster. Multivariate analysis revealed that rises in AT use were positively associated with education. Females and younger evacuees were more likely to have increased AT use. ID use increase was positively associated with resource loss and leaving the city before Katrina. Decreases in AT and ID use were found to be associated with disaster-related exposure. The paper discusses the specific consequences of disasters on disadvantaged minority substance users and the importance of developing public health disaster policies that target this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents practical and methodological strategies in the tracking and retention of a longitudinal community-based sample of 300 Mexican American noninjecting users of heroin. Presented are the ethnographic strategies the research team utilized to maintain high retention rates among this highly marginalized and hidden population. Findings indicate that these ethnographic strategies are the basis for a reliable method for subject retention among drug-using populations. Further, the strategies illustrate how qualitative methods can complement the collection of quantitative data. Discussed is how these strategies can be used to identify and engage similar populations in research studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article examines the complexity of street gang homicides and focuses on situational factors that lead to gang members' susceptibility to this violent behavior within the context of a disadvantaged minority community. This study is based on an analysis of 28 homicides involving Mexican American gang members. The absence of immigrant youth involvement in these types of violent crimes is discussed. Findings demonstrate how locally embedded social processes associated with specific gang types, ecology, drugs, circumstances, and motives unfold into homicidal events. These findings may contribute to the development of street-based social programs focused on gang mediation, dispute resolution, and crisis intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines potential risk factors for resuming and transitioning to injecting among a prospective cohort of 300 Mexican American non-injecting heroin users (NIUs) with distinct injecting histories (i.e., never vs. former injectors). Overall, findings revealed NIUs with an injecting history are more likely to be at greater risk for resuming injecting practices. Of interest, scoring high on acculturation decreased the risk of being a former injector. The present analysis supports previous research, and more importantly further identifies potential risk factors for injecting that are unique to the cultural and social context of the Mexican American community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hispanic adolescent females are the largest group of minority adolescents in the nation and appear to be at great risk for substance use. This research is based on data generated from a cross-sectional study of 150 Mexican American gang-affiliated adolescent females to predict substance-use recurrence. Findings reveal that positive family relationships, and in particular, mother-daughter relationships are protective factors for alcohol- and tobacco-use recurrence. Furthermore, the ability of the immediate family to cope with difficulties, stress, and conflicts were significant in averting illicit drug recurrence. This research provides evidence of the role of the family as a protective factor among these adolescents, despite their gang affiliation and street orientation. Discussed is how these findings contribute to formulating effective intervention, prevention, and treatment responses aimed at this "beyond risk" population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines hypotheses and builds models to help clarify the causal connections between drugs and violence outcomes among Mexican-American male gang members. The study uses cross-sectional data of 160 male gang members sampled from 26 gangs in a Southwestern city. A life-history /intensive interview using closed and open-ended questions and a violence risk psychometric test (PFAV) also employed 10 scenario questions to elicit self-produced accounts of the participant's last fight. Gang member participant's ages ranged from 14 to 25 years with a mean age of 18.5 years. The study concludes that drug use interacts with an individual gang member's risk for violence to affect violent behavior outcomes. Furthermore, an important situational variable explaining violent outcomes among respondents scoring high on the violence risk measure was whether the rival was using drugs that resulted in high intoxication levels. The study concludes that drugs have a modulating and mediating influence on violence that is conditioned by situational and individual level variables among members of these adolescent street gangs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research has found that disorderly life events in early adolescence are associated with problem behaviors in late adolescence and early adulthood. The objective of the study is to determine the patterns of associations among substance use and adolescence precocious transitions in a sample (N=160) of Mexican American gang members in San Antonio, Texas. The Mexican American male gang members are a poly drug using population as measured by their lifetime and current drug use patterns. A correlation and confirmatory factor analysis was conducted between substance use and precocious transitions that revealed two distinct groups of thug users in the Mexican American gang population: "hard" drug users and "party" drug users. Furthermore, factor analysis revealed underlying precocious transitions constructs that go beyond a precocious transitions index. Findings begin to identify the importance of disorderly life events as correlates of substance use among this unique population of gang members. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the problem of drug related gang violence may no longer command national media and a high level of policymakers' attention and concern, in border communities, drug related barrio gang violence remains a major concern on both sides of the border, and for their communities' respective leaders and policymakers. The project's larger study examines the epidemiology of drug related violence among Mexican American youth in two communities and three major neighborhoods in Laredo, Texas. With regard to gang members' lifetime use of drugs like heroin, cocaine, crack/cocaine, amphetamines, other opiates, inhalants, acid/psychedelics and marijuana, Laredo gang members reported wide ranges of substances and levels of use. Unlike earlier community gang studies, the sampling approach and method allows us to speak to a wider range of gangs, gang members, and activities that other earlier studies were not able to address. The data suggests that It is unlikely that gangs, drugs, and violence will abate in border gateway cities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This analysis examined the role of impactful life events/stressful contextual factors and cannabis use in the patterns of illicit drug use. It utilized semi-structured qualitative interviews with 40 young adult medical cannabis patients and 22 non-patient users collected in Los Angeles during 2014–2015. Three patterns of illicit drug use emerged based on participants' narratives: regular/problematic, recreational/occasional, and never users. Among regular/problematic users, a common theme was the lasting impact of traumatic life events or stressful contextual factors on transition to and away from problematic drug use, and using cannabis to cope with negative after effects of drug use. In contrast, most recreational/occasional and never users, who reported impactful life events or stressful contextual factors, used cannabis to cope with those experiences. Family history of addiction and acceptance of cannabis use within a family as protective factors against illicit drug use among some recreational/occasional and never users was an unexpected finding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]