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. 2017 Dec;94(6):776-779.
doi: 10.1007/s11524-017-0152-3.

Voices from Flint: Community Perceptions of the Flint Water Crisis

Nia Jeneé Heard-Garris  1 , Jessica Roche  2 , Patrick Carter  2 , Mahshid Abir  3 , Maureen Walton  4 , Marc Zimmerman  5 , Rebecca Cunningham  2
Affiliations

Voices from Flint: Community Perceptions of the Flint Water Crisis

Nia Jeneé Heard-Garris et al. J Urban Health. 2017 Dec.

Abstract

We describe the self-reported socioeconomic and health impacts, as well as the coping mechanisms employed by a drug-using cohort of adults during the Flint water crisis (FWC) in Flint, Michigan. Participants from an ongoing longitudinal Emergency Department study were contacted between April 2016 and July 2016 and completed a survey focusing on exposure, consequences, and coping strategies. One hundred thirty-three participants (mean age = 26, 65% African-American, 61% public assistance) completed the survey (37.9% response rate). Of these, 75% reported exposure to water with elevated lead levels. Of these, 75% reported additional monthly expenses resulting from exposure. Almost 40% of parents reported changes in their children's health and 65% reported changes to their health since the FWC. Participants indicated the use of both positive (e.g., advice from trusted neighbors, 99.0%) and negative coping mechanisms (e.g., increased substance use, 20.0%) in response to this public health emergency. High-risk Flint residents reported multiple social, economic, and health-related consequences stemming from the FWC. Policymakers should consider additional resources for those affected, including increased access to mental health to aid recovery within the community.

Keywords: Environmental health; Flint water crisis; Health.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Heard-Garris is funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholars Program. The funders had no role in design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, or interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval ofthe manuscript; or decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

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