The Social Production of Substance Abuse and HIV/HCV Risk: An Exploratory Study of Opioid-using Immigrants from the Former Soviet Union Living in New York City

Authors

Honoria Guarino, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc.
Sarah K. Moore, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc.
Lisa A. Marsch, Dartmouth College
Sal Florio, Coney Island Hospital

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-12-2012

Publication Title

Substance Abuse - Treatment, Prevention, and Policy

Abstract

Several former Soviet countries have witnessed the rapid emergence of major epidemics of injection drug use (IDU) and associated HIV/HCV, suggesting that immigrants from the former Soviet Union (FSU) may be at heightened risk for similar problems. This exploratory study examines substance use patterns among the understudied population of opioid-using FSU immigrants in the U.S., as well as social contextual factors that may increase these immigrants' susceptibility to opioid abuse and HIV/HCV infection. In-depth interviews were conducted with 10 FSU immigrants living in New York City who initiated opioid use in adolescence or young adulthood, and with 6 drug treatment providers working with this population. Informed by a grounded theory approach, interview transcripts were inductively coded and analyzed to identify key themes.

DOI

10.1186/1747-597X-7-2

Dartmouth Digital Commons Citation

Guarino, Honoria; Moore, Sarah K.; Marsch, Lisa A.; and Florio, Sal, "The Social Production of Substance Abuse and HIV/HCV Risk: An Exploratory Study of Opioid-using Immigrants from the Former Soviet Union Living in New York City" (2012). Dartmouth Scholarship. 1225.
https://digitalcommons.dartmouth.edu/facoa/1225