NCJ Number
117556
Date Published
1988
Length
10 pages
Annotation
California's use of Federal funds appropriated to address the problem of AIDS, particularly among women intravenous drug abusers of child-bearing age, is reported.
Abstract
About $575,000 of Federal Anti-Drug Abuse AIDS funds to be spent on the treatment of California's IV drug abusers (IVDA's) during fiscal year 1987-1988 was aimed for women IVDA's of child-bearing age. This group represented 39.2 percent of all IVDA's in California and, of the counties examined, Sacramento served the highest proportion and Riverside the smallest proportion. Overall, the total number of IVDA's served in treatment units receiving State and/or Federal funding decreased by 1,453, or 10.1 percent, between the first quarter of fiscal year 1986 and the first quarter of fiscal year 1987. Over the same period, the number of women IVDA's of child-bearing age served decreased to a lesser extent by 543, or 9.6 percent. Average monthly caseload changes during the same period were insignificant, indicating that IVDA's are staying in treatment longer. This allows for less client turnover, resulting in fewer people passing through the service delivery system. The decrease in women IVDA's of child-bearing age should be interpreted with caution for three reasons: 1) the California Drug Abuse Data System is continually updated and, as admission reports are received, the number of persons served will increase; 2) while women IVDA's of child-bearing age served have decreased, monthly caseload changes have been insignificant; and 3) five of ten major California counties documented that 838 persons were waiting for methadone services and that most counties will be increasing methadone services to accommodate waiting lists. 4 tables.