The Irish Traveller Community: Social Capital and Drug Use

Abstract

The Irish Traveller community experiences severe marginalization, poverty, discrimination, and compromised health. Research indicates a distinct lack of structural understanding of Traveller negotiation of conflict within dominant sedentarist societal norms and values. Gender-based focus groups (n = 12) of Travellers (n = 57) were conducted as part of a large scale regional needs analysis for Travellers and substance use in Ireland and analyzed thematically using the social capital framework in terms of Traveller experiences within settled communities, exposure to drugs, and drug using contexts. Discriminatory experiences, low levels of institutional trust, and an influx of drug activity in Traveller communities are contributing to the neutralization of drug taking risk and the development of normative and reciprocal relationships in drug activities. A holistic, inter-governmental approach is needed to address social exclusion factors by reducing marginalization, preserving the Traveller ethnic identity, minimizing racist and discriminatory instances, understanding the Traveller risk environment, and fostering inclusive relationships with settled communities.

Recovery capital among migrants and ethnic minorities: A qualitative systematic review of first-person perspectives

“…The minority-majority divide that respondents experienced, can lead to downgrading one's self-worth and identity disruption (Van Hout, 2010), the increased need to feel part of a cultural community and (re)gain a cultural identity when recovering from problem substance use. Leamy and colleagues (2011) already pointed out that religion, spirituality and belonging to a cultural group or community are particularly important for personal recovery among MEM.…”

“…To increase the likelihood of stable recovery, painful life experiences and trauma need to be addressed in treatment. Treatment should enhance MEM individuals' recovery capital, by collaborating with them, their social network, and the MEM community, investing in relationships of trust and offering empowering opportunities such as being a role model for others (Sexton et al, 2006;Van Hout, 2010). Recovery-oriented, client-centered, culturally sensitive and trauma-informed treatment is recommended (Kelly & White, 2011;Klein et al, 2016;Westermeyer, 1995).…”

“…Several barriers to treatment have been reported, as well as higher drop-out rates and less successful treatment outcomes (Burlew & Sanchez, 2017;Guerrero et al, 2013;Isralowitz, Straussner, & Rosenblum, 2006;Sexton, Carlson, Siegal, Leukefeld, & Booth, 2006). Furthermore, it is broadly accepted that migration and ethnicity-related factors influence recovery processes, by, for example, limiting access to recovery resources (De Kock, 2020;Straussner, 2001;Van Hout, 2010;White & Cloud, 2008).…”

Tailoring the continuum of care for substance use problems to persons with an Islamic migration background: a co-creative case study

“…This has been linked with negative perceptions toward persons with an Islamic background due to fear-centered associations with terrorism and increasing right-wing political tendencies across Europe (19,(34)(35)(36). On a personal level, stigma may lead to selfstigma and identity disruption (37). Additionally, acculturation difficulties and ethnic conformity pressure may be stressors that form risk factors for substance use among persons with an Islamic migration background (38).…”