Honors Theses (Environmental Studies Program)

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Disproportionate Environmental Impacts and Recovery Related Group Homes
(University of Oregon, 2017-04) Cumming, Scott
Environmental justice research has shown that different marginalized populations in the United States have been disproportionately impacted by environmental harms. Most of the research and policy has focused on ethnic minority and low income groups. None of the research has focused on populations in recovery from addiction. Using a linear regression model I show that there is a positive correlation between higher cancer risk, lead paint exposure, and respiratory hazard index, and having an Oxford House located in a census block group in both Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania. Oxford Houses are Level I recovery residences, and house persons in early recovery from addiction and alcoholism and their families. Being at a higher risk for health impacts could be a detriment to people seeking recovery from addiction. This was a pilot study with two areas of research showing a positive correlation between sober living houses being located in areas with higher rates of cancer, lead paint, and respiratory hazards; more research is warranted.