Date of Award

5-2025

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Master of Social Work

Department

School of Social Work

First Reader/Committee Chair

Barragan, Armando

Abstract

The opioid epidemic has increased exponentially in severity across the United States in the last decade. This research project was conducted to understand the needs of a vulnerable population (opioid users) at the local level. The research sought to answer the following question: How do low-income individuals in Santa Cruz County cope with opioid use? The purpose is to identify the most common coping strategies used by this population, so that social workers and others in helping professions in Santa Cruz County will have a fuller picture of what this vulnerable demographic is facing. The data for this research was collected via 13 anonymous interviews. Data was analyzed via thematic analysis, which produced the following themes: coping strategies, negative effects of opioid use, experiences of services used, and gaps in services. Implications from this research for social work practice include revealing a lack of affordable addiction services, a lack of clarity in services available, and a need for advocacy and local political action to secure funding and program expansion in Santa Cruz County.

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