The Black Addict: I. Methodology, Chronology of Addiction, and Overview of the Population

Abstract

One hundred ninety-two Black, male heroin addicts in various phases of treatment and nontreatment, including never-treated active addicts and actively addicted treatment dropouts, were systematically interviewed for early life events, psychosocial variables, and natural history of addiction. This report presents the chronology of the addiction problem from childhood as well as evidence of significant early antisocial activities predating drug use in this population. Data on family characteristics, arrests, problems in formal schooling, and adult activities are summarized. The current work is compared to earlier data on comparable populations.