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Results for substance use and abuse (new jersey)

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Author: Windsor, Liliane Cambraia

Title: Substance Use and Treatment in Newark: Voices from African-American Distressed Communities

Summary: Community distress and substance abuse are often conjoined social problems. An exemplar where this exists is Newark, a large city located in Essex County, New Jersey. The average annual income in Newark is $13,009; 42% of residents 24 and older do not complete high school; and 54% are African-American. Newark’s African-American residents consistently show poorer health and socio-economic outcomes when compared to the neighboring areas. Newark has the highest prevalence rates for substance use and HIV/AIDS in the State of New Jersey. Heroin represents the most significant narcotic problem in Newark and accounts for more admissions to treatment centers than all other substances combined. The Newark Eligible Metropolitan Areas HIV Planning Council in a 2005 survey of 221 substance abusers reported that as many as 44% of the sample was HIV positive. African-Americans represent 78% of persons living with HIV/AIDS in Newark. Young adults abuse heroin at a rate twice as high as the national average, and heroin accounts for 90% of substance abuse intervention admissions. Unlike New York State, syringe exchange programs are scarce, underfunded, and stigmatized in New Jersey, creating significant barriers to clean syringes without a prescription. Such barriers have significant implications for HIV and Hepatitis infection risks. In fact, HIV and Hepatitis infection rates among injection drug users (IDU) are substantially greater in Newark than in New York City. In light of the harmful and disproportionate consequences of substance abuse in Newark’s distressed neighborhoods, it is important to understand community views regarding substance use and treatment when developing policies and culturally-tailored interventions to reduce substance use and HIV risk behaviors. The current study, supported by the Center on Behavioral Health Science & Criminal Justice Research, proposed to engage individuals from low-income African-American communities in Newark (from here on “Newark” refers to Newark’s distressed neighborhoods) to develop a framework that can inform the development and/or adaptation of substance abuse treatment and HIV prevention programs in ways that are culturally relevant for low-income African-Americans. In this study distress means high poverty levels, low educational attainment, large numbers of liquor stores in the neighborhood, presence of a significant street drug market, high drug related violence, and presence of dilapidated buildings. The study aimed to: (1) examine the role of alcohol and other drug use among Newark’s distressed neighborhoods and (2) identify these communities’ needs related to alcohol and drug treatment.

Details: New Brunswick, NJ: Center for Behavioral Health Services & Criminal Justice Research, Rutgers University, 2010. 4p.

Source: Internet Resource: Policy Brief: Accessed October 5, 2011 at: http://cbhs.rutgers.edu/pdfs/Policy_Brief_Sept_2010.pdf

Year: 2010

Country: United States

URL: http://cbhs.rutgers.edu/pdfs/Policy_Brief_Sept_2010.pdf

Shelf Number: 122989

Keywords:
African Americans
Drug Addiction and Abuse
Drug Treatment
Socio-Economic Conditions
Substance Use and Abuse (New Jersey)
Urban Neighborhoods