NCJ Number
192482
Journal
Substance Use & Misuse Volume: 36 Issue: 12 Dated: 2001 Pages: 1651-1676
Date Published
2001
Length
26 pages
Annotation
This study quantifies the need and demand for substance user treatment services in a large population of patients treated for communicable diseases, specifically sexually transmitted diseases.
Abstract
The study claims that substance use among individuals with sexually transmitted diseases (STD's) is an area in which there is insufficient research published in the literature, but which is essential for policy development. More than 1,700 patients treated for STD's in publicly funded clinics in Michigan between 1994-1995 were interviewed about their substance use, consequences of use, and demand for substance user treatment services. The rates of substance use and demand for substance user treatment services were significantly higher among persons encountered in the STD clinics compared to the Michigan general adult population. However, a large proportion of STD patients determined to need substance user treatment services did not report ever receiving them. The study recommends more research on the STD subpopulation that needs substance user treatment services but has never received them. The research should include possible reasons these individuals have never received treatment services, should identify possible barriers to receiving treatment services and gaps in services. The information developed by this additional research could provide policymakers generalizable evidence on which to base decisions about allocating resources. Tables, references