Examining the Crack Epidemic and Subsequent Drug Policy through Identifying Trends in Outpatient Substance Abuse Treatment for Crack Use/Abuse: 1995-2005
Abstract
Disparities in the crack/cocaine discourse have changed drastically since its inception
over 30 years ago. Since the late 1980s, research examining this particular abuse
has become more complex as both nationally and globally crack use/abuse has been examined
within various contexts. Crack use has often been framed as an African American problem
in part resulting from the high volume of African Americans seeking treatment for
illnesses associated with their crack-cocaine use, and more African Americans dying
from crack-cocaine overdose. This logical fallacy persists despite evidence showing
African Americans have lower substance use/abuse compared to Caucasians. Given the
impact of the crack epidemic as well as its related drug policies on African American
communities and their families, further examination of crack use/abuse is necessary.
This study will discuss the crack epidemic historically and examine crack use among
clients of a large sample of outpatient substance abuse treatment units over a decade
period between 1995 and 2005.
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Nadine J Barrett
Associate Professor in Family Medicine and Community Health
Dr. Nadine J. Barrett is an Associate Professor in the Department of Family Medicine
and Community Health at Duke University. She currently hold senior leadership roles
as CTSI Co-Director for Equity and Stakeholder Strategy and the Inaugural Director
of The Center for Equity in Research in the Duke Clinical Translational Science Institute,
and Associate Director for Equity and Stakeholder Strategy, Duke Cancer Institute.
A medical sociologist by training, Dr. Barrett is

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