Perspectives of urban redevelopment among persons with a history of injection drug use

Background: Urban decay is associated with drug use. While urban redevelopment is intended to ameliorate urban decay, some studies demonstrate that urban redevelopment can negatively impact historical residents. Few studies have evaluated its impact on persons with a history of drug use.

Methods: A convenience sample of 25 current and former injection drug users enrolled in the AIDS Linked to the Intravenous Experience (ALIVE-Baltimore, Maryland), and reporting residence within (or bordering) a neighborhood undergoing redevelopment, participated in 1-2 semi-structured in-depth interviews from July 2011- February 2012. Interviews explored personal experiences related to redevelopment and perceptions of community-wide impact. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed. Data were analyzed using the constant comparison method.

Results: Respondents rarely described urban redevelopment as solely negative or positive. Beautification and increased security were reported as positive consequences. Negative consequences included lack of redevelopment-related employment for historical residents and housing instability among relocated residents. Respondents said urban redevelopment led to the displacement of illicit drug markets from the redeveloping neighborhood to adjacent neighborhoods, and across city boundaries into outlying counties. Residential relocation and displacement of drug markets were reported as beneficial for persons in contemplative and later stages of recovery.

Conclusions: These findings support a holistic approach to urban redevelopment which incorporates employment opportunities and housing accessibility for historical residents. Furthermore, the impact of redevelopment on surrounding neighborhoods should be considered, since fundamental problems, such as drug use, are not likely eliminated by redevelopment but merely displaced. Additional research is needed to support these findings.