Heith Copes, Distinguished Professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, presents findings from a photo-ethnography with people who use methamphetamine in rural Alabama.
Using Chico, a 50-year-old, Hispanic man who has used meth for nearly three decades, as an illustrative case, Copes explores how men who use methamphetamine are often “caught in between” two worlds: the violent world of drug use and the traditional world of the working-class.
This alienation contributed to Chico presenting himself in two primary ways: as a rebellious, anti-authority menace to outsiders and as a caring, generous friend to insiders. Chico displayed these identities through visual symbols (on his home, property, and body) and through his stories and actions.
Although brief, this glimpse into Chicos life highlights the tension that many living on the margins experience as they seek to live up to social expectations.