Scholar Spotlight: Dr. Mayra Guerrero, Substance Use Disorders & Recovery Capital
Collaborative Endeavors Podcast: Season 4, Episode 5
Episode Summary Heading link
Mayra Guerrero, an assistant professor of psychology in UIC’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, is delving into how individuals, especially those from minoritized communities, recover from substance use disorders by developing “recovery capital.”
By examining factors such as self-efficacy, social networks and neighborhood support systems, the project aims to understand disparities in treatment utilization and outcomes across racial and ethnic groups, shedding light on why these differences persist despite similar prevalence rates of substance use disorders.
“We see that individuals in neighborhoods that are disadvantaged, that lack resources, have poor recovery outcomes. What I’m interested in is what other neighborhood-level factors hinder or promote recovery,” said Guerrero.
Supported through a CCTS CATS Affiliate Scholar Award, Guerrero’s research employs a mixed method, community-based participatory research approach to capture the nuanced influences of neighborhood and social environments on recovery. Study volunteers participate in qualitative interviews and techniques like Photo Voice, where they visually document their lived experiences. These narratives complement quantitative data, enriching the understanding of recovery journeys.
Ultimately, the project aims to inform the design of community interventions that empower individuals in their recovery while advancing the field of health equity research.