THE OUTREACH ASSISTED PEER-SUPPORT MODEL FOR CONTROLLING DRUG DEPENDENCY

This article examines the outreach-assisted peer-support (OAPS) model of group interaction as an innovative strategy to help active street addicts control, reduce, or stop their use of drugs. The OAPS model targets active street addicts who are not in treatment and who may elect to continue drug use while participating in an OAPS group. Community-outreach and network sampling methods were used to recruit active heroin and cocaine users, One hundred street addicts were invited to participate voluntarily in outreach staff-assisted peer-support groups sessions held at two community-based sites in Chicago. Data are drawn from regular indepth interviews, ethnographic reports, and transcribed tapes of OAPS sessions. The analysis focuses on the social processes through which peers help peers to stop, control, or reduce the harm of using illegal drugs.