Research focusing on active users of crack cocaine and how they interact with the health care system—drug abuse treatment in particular—is a new area of inquiry. Much of what is known about the problems associated with the use of crack comes from short-term studies. This article describes implementation and methodological issues related to conducting health services research with a natural history orientation among a population of active crack cocaine users (n = 444) in Dayton and Montgomery counties in Ohio. Data from this study can help define what addiction to crack really means as well as ways to prevent and treat it.
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