TY - JOUR
T1 - Trajectories of methamphetamine use in the rural south
T2 - A longitudinal qualitative study
AU - Sexton, Rocky L.
AU - Carlson, Robert G.
AU - Leukefeld, Carl G.
AU - Booth, Brenda M.
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - This paper describes trajectories of methamphetamine (MA) use among participants in a longitudinal study in rural Arkansas and Kentucky. Thirty-nine baseline qualitative interviews were conducted with active MA users. Twenty-four participants were interviewed again from 12 to 24 months later. At follow-up, 13 participants reported quitting MA use, six had reduced MA use, and five were using the drug at approximately baseline levels. Two participants had changed modes of administering MA. Health, legal, and family issues, or a combination of these factors, were linked to quitting or reducing MA use. Sixteen participants had made positive changes without drug abuse treatment, one used professional inpatient treatment, and two utilized faith-based programs. Willpower, self-isolation, staying busy, family support, and using substitute drugs were cited as strategies for avoiding MA use. The study findings have important implications for understanding rural MA use careers, guiding future research, and informing intervention strategies.
AB - This paper describes trajectories of methamphetamine (MA) use among participants in a longitudinal study in rural Arkansas and Kentucky. Thirty-nine baseline qualitative interviews were conducted with active MA users. Twenty-four participants were interviewed again from 12 to 24 months later. At follow-up, 13 participants reported quitting MA use, six had reduced MA use, and five were using the drug at approximately baseline levels. Two participants had changed modes of administering MA. Health, legal, and family issues, or a combination of these factors, were linked to quitting or reducing MA use. Sixteen participants had made positive changes without drug abuse treatment, one used professional inpatient treatment, and two utilized faith-based programs. Willpower, self-isolation, staying busy, family support, and using substitute drugs were cited as strategies for avoiding MA use. The study findings have important implications for understanding rural MA use careers, guiding future research, and informing intervention strategies.
KW - Ethnography
KW - Methamphetamine
KW - Southern United States
KW - Use patterns
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U2 - 10.17730/humo.67.2.h457132482255391
DO - 10.17730/humo.67.2.h457132482255391
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85036920268
SN - 0018-7259
VL - 67
SP - 181
EP - 193
JO - Human Organization
JF - Human Organization
IS - 2
ER -