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Drug Abuse and Identity in Mexican Americans: Theoretical and Empirical Considerations

Erica V. Sharp

Elizabeth H. Barrington

Maureen Walton

San Diego State University

Richard A. Rawson

MATRIX Center

This review proposes the construct of drug use identity and presents a 4-stage model that features this construct. This 4-stage modelproposes that drug use identity, a latentfactor, undergoes a progressive transformation from identity as a casual user during the initiation stage (Stage 1), to identity as a drug addict at the treatment entiy stage (Stage 2), to identity as a recovering addict at the late treatment stage (Stage 3). At the posttreatment recovery stage (Stage 4), this new identity as a recovering addict may operate as a mediator of the social influences effected by a sober reference group. These social influences prompt a sustained identity as a recovering addic4 along with enhanced ethnic pride, increased social role responsibility, and enhanced health motivation and behavior. For drug-addicted Mexican Americans, enhanced ethnic pride, whether discovered or reestablished, may develop as a consequence of a progression toward a "maturing identity. " Directions for theory and research based on this framework are discussed.

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