"The drug issue really isn't the main problem"- A photovoice study on community perceptions of place, health, and substance abuse

Substance abuse is a complex and challenging public health problem. In order to better address substance abuse, it is vital to understand the perspectives of people whose communities are disproportionately impacted by it. This photovoice study aimed to understand how community members perceive the relationship between place, health, and substance abuse in Hartford, Connecticut, one city grappling with substance abuse and its related challenges. Findings revealed three themes: perceived place-based environmental risk factors for substance abuse; coping strategies to maintain sobriety in this challenging environmental context; and participants' recommendations for addressing substance abuse. Implications are discussed.