Health services for HIV/AIDS, HCV, and sexually transmitted infections in substance abuse treatment programs. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • The National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network conducted this study to determine the availability of and factors associated with infection-related health services in substance abuse treatment settings. In a cross-sectional descriptive design, state policies, reimbursement for providers, state level of priority, and treatment program characteristics were studied via written surveys of administrators of substance abuse treatment programs and of state health and substance abuse departments. Data from health departments and substance abuse agencies of 48 states and from 269 substance abuse treatment programs revealed that human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-related services are more frequent than hepatitis C virus or sexually transmitted infection-related services, and that nonmedical services are more frequent than medical services. While the availability of infection-related health services is associated with medical staffing patterns, addiction pharmacotherapy services, and state priorities, reimbursement was the most significant determining factor. These findings suggest that greater funding of these health services in substance abuse treatment settings, facilitated by supportive state policies, represents an effective response to the excess morbidity and mortality of these substance use-related infections.

publication date

  • January 1, 2007

Research

keywords

  • Health Priorities
  • Health Services Accessibility
  • Hepatitis C
  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases
  • Substance Abuse Treatment Centers

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC1888517

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 34547682159

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1177/003335490712200404

PubMed ID

  • 17639646

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 122

issue

  • 4