The Perceived Role of Family in Heroin Use Behaviors of Mexican-American Men.

The influence of the family is not well understood as it relates to drug use behaviors of Hispanic male adults. We examined the family's influence on drug use behavior, as perceived by Hispanic men who use heroin. One-time qualitative interviews were conducted with 21 current and former heroin users who participated in a larger study on long-term heroin use in Mexican-American men. Data were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Three main themes emerged: family as a supportive environment for heroin use; heroin as a family legacy; and, the family's strategies for helping to stop using heroin. A sub-theme emerged on the paradox of family involvement, which spanned the three main themes. This research lays a foundation for future work to disentangle the risks and benefits of family involvement to inform culturally-centered therapies and cultural adaptations to traditional therapeutic approaches with Mexican-American men who abuse drugs.

The Concept of Familism in the Lived Experiences of Mexican-Origin Caregivers.

This study qualitatively examined the experiences of Mexican-origin women caring for elderly family members in order to identify aspects of familism in their caregiving situations. Data were collected from onetime interviews with 44 caregivers living in the greater East Los Angeles area. Kinscripts guided the framing of familism in this study. Data were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Caregivers' descriptions of the Mexican family reflected an idealized view of familism. Caregivers reported a lack of support from others and relying for support on fewer family members than were potentially available to them. Findings suggest that the construct of familism has evolved from its long-standing portrayals in the literature. More research is needed to reexamine familism as a theoretical perspective to explain how Mexican-origin families negotiate and construct elder care over the family life course.

Going "Macro": Exploring the Careers of Macro Practitioners.

Important benefits accrue to the profession and to its vulnerable clientele when social workers hold positions with substantial community or policy influence. However, fewer social workers are holding these positions than in the past, and student preferences to pursue macro-specific training have declined. To improve the social work profession's ability to recruit and educate students interested in competing for leadership positions in human services organizations, this article analyzes data from a survey of MSW graduates of a public school of social work located in the southwestern United States and currently working as macro practitioners. Findings indicate that macro social workers can successfully compete for mid-level and top-level administrative and policy positions, and provide evidence contrary to many of the concerns students express when deciding whether to pursue a macro concentration or career. The article concludes with a discussion of the implications for supporting and educating social work students interested in pursuing a macro practice career.