Incidence of HIV among injection drug users entering drug treatment programs in four US cities

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has reached epidemic proportions among drug users, and drug programs are in a unique position to provide each of their patients with HCV education. Using a nationwide sample ( N = 434) of drug treatment programs, we report the results of a logistic regression analysis that differentiates programs providing HCV education to all of their patients versus programs that do not. Fifty-four percent of the programs provide HCV education to all of their patients. Programs are about four and a half times as likely to provide HCV education to all patients if they dispense methadone; almost four times as likely to provide this service if they educate most of their staff about HCV; twice as likely if they are residential; and almost twice as likely if they conduct HIV testing on-site. Our findings indicate that there is a need to increase HCV educational services in drug treatment programs.

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

Journal of Drug Issues ◽

10.1177/002204269802800206 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 381-394 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

David Farabee ◽

Carl G. Leukefeld ◽

Lon Hays

Keyword(s):

Drug Abuse ◽

Drug Treatment ◽

Injection Drug Users ◽

Drug Users ◽

Treatment Programs ◽

Drug Abuse Treatment ◽

Treatment Access ◽

Treatment Perceptions ◽

Immunodeficiency Virus ◽

Abuse Treatment

The Presidential Commission on the Human Immunodeficiency Virus Epidemic (1988) developed a 10-year plan in 1987 that recommended: “Expanded drug abuse treatment programs sufficient to admit all IV drug users who desired services and, until that occurred, short-term detoxification and low-dose methadone for those on waiting lists.” This study presents data collected from a sample of 2,613 out-of-treatment and non-incarcerated injection drug users in 21 U.S. cities to examine their drug-treatment access during the past year. Analyses on injectors who tried but were unable to enter treatment revealed that program-based reasons (e.g., no room, too costly, or stringent admission criteria) are the most commonly given barriers to drug treatment (72%). However, a notable number of injectors (20%) also reported that individual-based reasons are important for not accessing drug treatment. Injectors giving program- and individual-based reasons for not entering treatment are profiled using logistic regression.

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Factors Associated with Drug Treatment Entry Patterns Among Hispanic Women Injection Drug Users Seeking Treatment

Substance Abusing Latinos ◽

10.4324/9780203051351-8 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 157-174

Author(s):

Lena M. Lundgren ◽

Hortensia Amaro ◽

Linsey Ben-Ami

Keyword(s):

Drug Treatment ◽

Injection Drug Users ◽

Drug Users ◽

Hispanic Women ◽

Injection Drug ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Treatment Entry

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Examining Drug Treatment Entry Patterns Among Young Injection Drug Users

The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse ◽

10.1080/00952990601174774 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 33 (2) ◽

pp. 217-225 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Sunny Hyucksun Shin ◽

Lena Lundgren ◽

Deborah Chassler

Keyword(s):

Drug Treatment ◽

Injection Drug Users ◽

Drug Users ◽

Injection Drug ◽

Treatment Entry

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Barriers and Facilitators to Undergoing Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Testing through Drug Treatment Programs

Journal of Drug Issues ◽

10.1177/002204260803800411 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 38 (4) ◽

pp. 1161-1185 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Shiela M. Strauss ◽

Corrine Munoz-Plaza ◽

Nelson Jose Tiburcio ◽

Janetta Astone-Twerell ◽

Don C. Des Jarlais ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis C Virus ◽

Hepatitis C ◽

Drug Treatment ◽

Drug Users ◽

Barriers And Facilitators ◽

Treatment Programs ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Drug Treatment Programs ◽

And Coping ◽

Hcv Testing

Given the high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection among drug users, HCV testing is critical in this population. While many drug treatment programs offer HCV testing, patients often do not utilize this essential program-facilitated service. Summarizing data collected in semi-structured interviews and surveys with patients in 25 programs, this paper identifies barriers and facilitators to being tested for HCV through the program. Barriers include the patient's belief that she/he is not HCV infected, fear of needles, fear of obtaining a positive HCV test result, fear of disclosure of such a result, and fear of inappropriate or disrespectful treatment during the testing process. In addition, 38% of HCV sero-unaware or sero-negative patients completing the survey did not know that HCV testing was offered through their programs. Salient facilitators for those tested through their programs include support from staff in explaining the importance of testing and help in understanding and coping with test results.

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