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Accessing Drug-Abuse Treatment: Perceptions of Out-of- Treatment Injectors

NCJ Number
173617
Journal
Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 28 Issue: 2 Dated: Spring 1998 Pages: 381-394
Author(s)
D Farabee; C G Leukefeld; L Hays
Date Published
1998
Length
14 pages
Annotation
To better understand drug treatment access, this study examined 2,613 out-of-treatment drug injectors who reported that they tried unsuccessfully to enter treatment (short-term detoxification and methadone maintenance) in the past year, the selected reasons they did not enter drug treatment, and the severity of HIV risk typifying those not admitted.
Abstract
This study was part of the National AIDS Research Project, which included 21 sites in the United States, one site in Puerto Rico, and one site in Brazil. Data were obtained from street drug users who were current injectors or crack-cocaine users. Data were obtained from street drug users who were current injectors or crack-cocaine users. Through aggressive outreach efforts, street drug users were recruited for free HIV antibody testing, pretest and post-test counseling, and baseline and 3- to 6-month follow-up interviews regarding needle and sex-risk behaviors. Current drug use was certified with urinalysis either immediately before or after the initial interview; in addition, blood samples were drawn to determine HIV seropositivity. The self-report data were drawn from the Risk Behavior Assessment questionnaire administered at intake. Analyses on injectors who tried but were unable to enter treatment showed that program-based reasons (e.g., no room, too costly, or stringent admission criteria) were the most commonly given barriers to drug treatment (72 percent); however, a notable number of injectors (20 percent) also reported that individual-based reasons were important for not accessing drug treatment. Injectors placed on waiting lists often reported that they ultimately did not enter treatment. Such cases may require more frequent telephone contact from treatment staff or counselors to sustain their commitment to receiving services. From a policy perspective, the key finding of this study relates to the injectors who attempted to enter treatment but were unsuccessful because of program-based reasons. Clearly, the goal of the Presidential Commission on the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Epidemic (1988) to offer treatment services for all injectors who desire services has yet to be realized. 4 tables, 2 notes, and 33 references

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