"The drug issue really isn't the main problem"- A photovoice study on community perceptions of place, health, and substance abuse

Karen A D'Angelo; Wonbin Her

doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.05.001

"The drug issue really isn't the main problem"- A photovoice study on community perceptions of place, health, and substance abuse

Health Place. 2019 May:57:257-264. doi: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.05.001.

Authors

Karen A D'Angelo¹, Wonbin Her²

Affiliations

¹ Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1040 West Harrison Street, Chicago, IL 60607, United States; Hispanic Health Council, 175 Main St., Hartford, CT 06106, United States. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Jane Addams College of Social Work, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1040 West Harrison Street, Chicago, IL 60607, United States.

PMID: 31128528
DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.05.001

Abstract

Substance abuse is a complex and challenging public health problem. In order to better address substance abuse, it is vital to understand the perspectives of people whose communities are disproportionately impacted by it. This photovoice study aimed to understand how community members perceive the relationship between place, health, and substance abuse in Hartford, Connecticut, one city grappling with substance abuse and its related challenges. Findings revealed three themes: perceived place-based environmental risk factors for substance abuse; coping strategies to maintain sobriety in this challenging environmental context; and participants' recommendations for addressing substance abuse. Implications are discussed.

Keywords: Community based participatory research; Connecticut; Hartford; Photovoice; Public health social work; Substance abuse.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Community-Based Participatory Research*
Connecticut
Ethnicity
Female
Health Status Indicators*
Humans
Ill-Housed Persons
Male
Photography*
Substance-Related Disorders*