TY - JOUR
T1 - Drug user treatment referrals and entry among participants of a needle exchange program
AU - Riley, Elise D.
AU - Safaeian, Mahboobeh
AU - Strathdee, Steffanie A.
AU - Brooner, Robert K.
AU - Beilenson, Peter
AU - Vlahov, David
N1 - Funding Information:
Supported by NIDA grants 09225 and 12347, Department of Health and Human Services. The authors gratefully acknowledge Benjamin Junge, Melissa Marx, Michele Brown, Lamont Coger, the Baltimore NEP staff, Addiction Treatment Services staff, and the participants of the Baltimore NEP.
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - Objective. To compare characteristics of needle exchange program (NEP) participants who requested methadone treatment to those who did not, compare participants who subsequently enrolled into treatment to those who did not enroll, and suggest possible barriers to treatment among NEP participants. Methods and Materials. Between 8/94 and 2/97, data pertaining to demographics and drug use were collected from Baltimore NEP participants upon registration. Participants were made aware that referrals to off-site methadone maintenance were available upon request. Odds ratios and multiple logistic regression models were used to compare those who requested treatment to those who did not and those who entered treatment to those who did not enter. Results. Among 2659 NEP participants, 86% were African-American, 28% were female, 9% were employed, and the median age was 38 years. Requesting a drug user treatment referral was associated with female gender [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 2.02], age > 38 years (AOR = 1.96), use of speedballs during the past 6 months (AOR = 3.38), and age > 20 years at time of first injection (AOR = 1.59). Among 139 individuals who requested treatment, males were twice as likely as females to enter treatment (OR = 2.45). In an open-ended survey, health insurance (p = .02) and not living with children (p = .01) were associated with drug user treatment entry. Conclusions. Even though female NEP participants were more likely to request methadone treatment, they were less likely than males to enter treatment. Although NEPs can be a bridge to drug user treatment, these data suggest that barriers to utilizing treatment referrals are important issues to resolve, especially for women who use community needle exchange programs.
AB - Objective. To compare characteristics of needle exchange program (NEP) participants who requested methadone treatment to those who did not, compare participants who subsequently enrolled into treatment to those who did not enroll, and suggest possible barriers to treatment among NEP participants. Methods and Materials. Between 8/94 and 2/97, data pertaining to demographics and drug use were collected from Baltimore NEP participants upon registration. Participants were made aware that referrals to off-site methadone maintenance were available upon request. Odds ratios and multiple logistic regression models were used to compare those who requested treatment to those who did not and those who entered treatment to those who did not enter. Results. Among 2659 NEP participants, 86% were African-American, 28% were female, 9% were employed, and the median age was 38 years. Requesting a drug user treatment referral was associated with female gender [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 2.02], age > 38 years (AOR = 1.96), use of speedballs during the past 6 months (AOR = 3.38), and age > 20 years at time of first injection (AOR = 1.59). Among 139 individuals who requested treatment, males were twice as likely as females to enter treatment (OR = 2.45). In an open-ended survey, health insurance (p = .02) and not living with children (p = .01) were associated with drug user treatment entry. Conclusions. Even though female NEP participants were more likely to request methadone treatment, they were less likely than males to enter treatment. Although NEPs can be a bridge to drug user treatment, these data suggest that barriers to utilizing treatment referrals are important issues to resolve, especially for women who use community needle exchange programs.
KW - "Substance abuse"
KW - Injection
KW - Methadone maintenance
KW - Needle exchange
KW - Treatment barriers
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U2 - 10.1081/JA-120014088
DO - 10.1081/JA-120014088
M3 - Article
C2 - 12511056
AN - SCOPUS:0036933389
SN - 1082-6084
VL - 37
SP - 1869
EP - 1886
JO - Substance Use and Misuse
JF - Substance Use and Misuse
IS - 14
ER -