Exploring Influences on Methamphetamine Use Among Males in Georgia

Emory University, Atlanta GA

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Abstract

Emerging data demonstrates a rise in methamphetamine (meth) use among males in the United States. Meth is associated with myriad physical and social harms and has the potential to exacerbate existing health problems. Existing meth prevention and treatment interventions do not address the unique social and economic challenges facing many males, or the related health impacts of these challenges. Based on our preliminary studies, we hypothesize that local and neighborhood-level housing, social and economic factors are likely to influence meth use among males. Additionally, we posit that these housing, social, and economic factors operate through housing instability and inadequate service access to increase risk for meth use among males. The goal of this project is to generate knowledge that will inform the design of multi-level and novel approaches to prevent meth use and associated harms among males. Our study will be based in Georgia – an ideal setting to examine these questions due to our prior research suggesting increasing use of meth use among males living in Georgia. Drawing on the risk environment framework as its theoretical foundation, this study will pursue three specific aims: (1) to examine the impacts of census-tract level measures of housing, economic and social conditions  on housing instability, service access and meth use among males in Georgia; (2) to elicit narratives of meth use, housing instability, service access, and  local and neighborhood-level conditions among males; and (3) to examine multi-level systems of influence and develop qualitative causal maps linking various local and neighborhood-level conditions, service access, housing and meth use among males. For the first aim, we will recruit N=300 participants into a longitudinal cohort study, and conduct serial surveys every 6 months over a two-year follow-up period. Additional location and meth use data will be obtained monthly using ecological momentary assessment technology. Individual survey responses will be linked to geolocated census-tract level measures of housing, economic and social conditions, and service access. For the second aim, we will conduct a longitudinal qualitative study including in-depth interviews and walking ethnographies with N=40 cohort participants, to gather insights on their experiences with housing instability, service access, local and neighborhood-level and meth use.  For the third aim, we will use a community-based system dynamics approach to convene a group model building workshop with key stakeholders (N=25), which will lead directly to the development of causal maps that will inform local and neighborhood-level interventions. The proposed research is highly significant because of its potential to inform effective strategies for preventing meth use and ameliorating meth-related harms in Georgia and nationwide.Â