Much of the existing research and body of knowledge on substance use has been gathered on mainstream, often White, populations. Consequently, less is known about substance use among other racial/ethnic groups. Moreover, when other target groups are investigated, the theories, research questions, and methods are so influenced by the assumptions of mainstream research that the work may not be sensitive to the nuances of the specific racial/ethnic group.
This issue of JESA uses two approaches that overcome some of those limitations: qualitative research methods and secondary data analysis on only the specific racial/ethnic group.
One advantage of qualitative methods is that the procedures may not be bound by mainstream theories, methods, or assumptions. The manuscripts in this issue demonstrate that qualitative research methods may be useful for several purposes including (a) understanding contextual or environmental factors associated with drug use, (b) informing public health or public policy, (c) evaluating/adapting clinical interventions, and (d) addressing methodological issues.
Several articles in this issue use qualitative methods to examine the role of contextual and environmental factors that may not have received attention in previous research. Mkuu, Rowell-Cunsolo, and Harvey investigate factors associated with either returning to or avoiding drug use among Black parolees upon release. Liat explores how the desire to belong to a deviant Russian subcubculture may affect response to drug treatment. Yassin and colleagues investigate the perceptions and attitudes of Ghomara’s local population toward the cultivation of cannabis. This mixed methods study also illustrates the benefits of combining qualitative and quantitative research.
Other researchers demonstrate that qualitative research offers an opportunity to raise new questions that previous public health or policy work may not have addressed. Flynn and Hoffer collected data to understand and address the transition from crack to methamphetamines. McKinnon, Bhatia, and Nadkarni Bhatia provide data useful for policy makers in Goa, India, who seek to address the onset and persistence of and recovery from alcohol use.
González Suitt and colleagues use qualitative methods for clinical purposes. Specifically, they evaluate the cultural appropriateness of solution-focused brief therapy and identify areas where cultural adaptation may increase efficacy.
Researchers who study racial/ethnic groups often are limited to measures developed for mainstream populations. Walls and colleagues use qualitative methods for measurement development. Walls uses tribal-based participatory research (TBPR), which is similar to community-based participatory research (CBPR), to collaborate with community members in the selection, adaptation, creation, and implementation of measures.
Along with qualitative methods, secondary analysis also offers the opportunity to focus on a specific subgroup. Villarreal and colleagues conduct a secondary analysis to understand the protective role of cultural values in avoiding depressive symptoms and, subsequently, reducing vulnerability to drug misuse.