Accessing hard-to-reach populations: the illicit drug market as a workplace of the outreach worker in Puerto Rico

Abstract

This descriptive paper reports findings from a formative research study on the drug market as a workplace of the outreach worker in Puerto Rico, and outlines strategies used by outreach workers to enable them to work effectively in these sites. Data were collected via outreach worker focus groups and participant observations at drug market sites. A social system theoretical model was used for analyzing data on drug market sites, and results are reported in terms of three basic social system components: structure, culture, and process. The authors recommend utilizing outreach workers as part of prevention and treatment teams in organizations providing services to drug users, as well as other hard-to-reach populations such as street sex workers and the homeless.