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. 2010 Apr;34(2):426-46.
doi: 10.1111/j.1467-7717.2009.01136.x. Epub 2009 Oct 26.

Patterns of substance use among hurricane Katrina evacuees in Houston, Texas

Alice Cepeda  1 , Avelardo Valdez, Charles Kaplan, Larry E Hill
Affiliations

Patterns of substance use among hurricane Katrina evacuees in Houston, Texas

Alice Cepeda et al. Disasters. 2010 Apr.

Abstract

This paper focuses on changing patterns of substance use among low income, African American drug users evacuated from New Orleans, Louisiana, during Hurricane Katrina of August 2005. It examines the relationship between increases and decreases in alcohol and tobacco (AT) use and illicit drug (ID) use after Katrina and pre-disaster and within-disaster factors. Data from structured interviews with 200 Katrina evacuees currently living in Houston were collected 8-14 months after the disaster. Multivariate analysis revealed that rises in AT use were positively associated with education. Females and younger evacuees were more likely to have increased AT use. ID use increase was positively associated with resource loss and leaving the city before Katrina. Decreases in AT and ID use were found to be associated with disaster-related exposure. The paper discusses the specific consequences of disasters on disadvantaged minority substance users and the importance of developing public health disaster policies that target this population.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Severe flooding areas and residence of New Orleans Katrina evacuee respondents
Figure 2
Figure 2
Substance use patterns 30 days prior to interview after Katrina among Houston evacuees
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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