Barriers to formal drug abuse treatment in the rural south: a preliminary ethnographic assessment

The Role of Cooperative Extension in Delivering Training and Technical Assistance to Support Evidence-Based Behavioral Health Practices in Rural Communities

The opioid epidemic in the United States continues to disproportionately affect those in rural, compared to urban, areas due to a variety of treatment and recovery barriers. One mechanism to increase capacity of rural-serving providers is through delivery of training and technical assistance (TTA) for evidence-based programs by leveraging the Cooperative Extension System. Guided by the Interactive Systems Framework, the current study evaluates TTA delivered by the Northwest Rural Opioid Technical Assistance Collabroative to opioid prevention, treatment, and recovery providers on short- (satisfaction, anticipated benefit), medium-, (behavioral intention to change current practice), and long-term goals (changes toward adoption of evidence-based practices). We also evaluated differences in short- and medium-term goals by intensity of TTA event and rurality of provider. Surveys of 351 providers who received TTA indicated high levels of satisfaction with TTA events attended, expressed strong agreement that they would benefit from the event, intended to make a professional practice change, and preparation toward implementing changes. Compared to urban-based providers, rural providers reported higher intention to use TTA information to change current practice. We conclude with a review of remaining gaps in the research to practice pipeline and recommendations for moving forward.

Rural and urban differences in disparities in substance use and substance use disorders affecting sexual minority populations

BACKGROUND

Sexual minority populations are at elevated risk for substance use (SU) and substance use disorders (SUD) compared to heterosexual populations. These disparities are theorized to be amplified for rural sexual minority populations due to their increased exposure to minority stress and reduced access to sexual minority communities. However, there is a lack of research examining differences in SU disparities affecting sexual minority populations by urbanicity, and little research has examined differences in SUD treatment utilization by sexual minority status or urbanicity.

METHODS

We utilized data from 2015 to 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health to examine disparities in SU, SUD, SUD treatment utilization, and unmet SUD treatment need between sexual minority and heterosexual populations and test whether such disparities vary by urbanicity.

RESULTS

Results indicate that disparities in SU and SUD affecting sexual minority populations generalize across urbanicities. A subset of disparities differed by urbanicity, and the direction of these differences varied, with some disparities being stronger in urban than rural populations and vice versa. Despite elevated treatment utilization among some sexual minority groups, disparities in unmet SUD treatment need were prevalent across urbanicities and sexual identity groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Study findings highlight the ubiquity of disparities in SU, SUD, and unmet SUD treatment need affecting rural and urban sexual minority populations, while also demonstrating nuanced differences in disparities by urbanicity. The persistence of disparities in unmet SUD treatment need emphasizes the need for future research to identify factors contributing to this disparity and for policies that alleviate these disparities.

The relationship between felt stigma and non-fatal overdose among rural people who use drugs

BACKGROUND

Drug overdose deaths in the United States exceeded 100,000 in 2021 and 2022. Substance use stigma is a major barrier to treatment and harm reduction utilization and is a priority target in ending the overdose epidemic. However, little is known about the relationship between stigma and overdose, especially in rural areas. We aimed to characterize the association between felt stigma and non-fatal overdose in a multi-state sample of rural-dwelling people who use drugs.

METHODS

Between January 2018 and March 2020, 2,608 people reporting past 30-day opioid use were recruited via modified chain-referral sampling in rural areas across 10 states. Participants completed a computer-assisted survey of substance use and substance-related attitudes, behaviors, and experiences. We used multivariable logistic regression with generalized estimating equations to test the association between felt stigma and recent non-fatal overdose.

RESULTS

6.6% of participants (n = 173) reported an overdose in the past 30 days. Recent non-fatal overdose was significantly associated with felt stigma after adjusting for demographic and substance use-related covariates (aOR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.20-1.81). The association remained significant in sensitivity analyses on component fear of enacted stigma items (aOR: 1.48, 95% CI: 1.20-1.83) and an internalized stigma item (aOR: 1.51, 95% CI: 1.07-2.14).

CONCLUSIONS

Felt stigma related to substance use is associated with higher risk of non-fatal overdose in rural-dwelling people who use drugs. Stigma reduction interventions and tailored services for those experiencing high stigma are underutilized approaches that may mitigate overdose risk.

Opioid Use Disorder Stigma and Support for Harm Reduction in Rural Counties

Background: The opioid crisis is a public health emergency in the United States, particularly in rural Pennsylvania. Stigma in rural communities is a treatment barrier and impacts harm reduction programming availability.Objectives: The current study utilized an observational, cross-sectional design to examine latent subgroups of stigma and differences in support for harm reduction strategies (i.e., safe injection facilities, syringe services programs, fentanyl test strips, Naloxone distribution). Participants included rural Pennsylvanians (n = 252), taken from a statewide survey of opioid use disorder (OUD) stigma. Participants reported OUD public stigma (i.e., attitudes/perceptions about OUD, willingness to engage with individuals with OUD) and support for harm reduction strategies.Results: Latent class analysis identified 4 stigma classes: 1) high stigma (HS), 2) high judgment/low stigmatizing behavior (HJ/LB), 3) high stigmatizing behavior/low stigmatizing attitude (HB/LA), and 4) low stigma (LS). ANCOVAs identified subgroup differences in harm reduction support. The HS group indicated less support for safe injection sites, syringe services programs, and fentanyl test strips, compared to the HB/LA and LS groups. The HS group indicated less support for Naloxone distribution compared to the HJ/LB, HB/LA, and LS groups. Lastly, the HJ/LB group indicated less support for each program compared to the LS group.Conclusions/Importance: Findings highlight that OUD stigma profiles differ across rural Pennsylvania and are associated with varying support for harm reduction strategies. Individuals with less stigma report more support for harm reduction strategies. Interventions to implement harm reduction strategies should consider varying levels of stigma and use a targeted approach to inform implementation and messaging strategies.

The Gendered Path for Girls in Rural Communities: The Impact of COVID-19 on Youth Presenting at Juvenile Detention Facilities

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, girls and women represented one of the fastest growing populations within the juvenile and criminal justice systems. Since the spread of COVID-19, suggestions were provided to juvenile justice bodies, encouraging a reduction of youth arrests, detainments, and quicker court processing. Yet, the research comparing peri-COVID-19 changes for girls and boys is lacking, with an oversight to gender trends and rural and urban differences. This study used Juvenile Intake and Assessment Center (JIAC) data from a rural Midwestern state to look at rural and urban location trends for both boys and girls. Results suggest rural communities are responding differently to girls' behaviors, revealing a slower decline in intakes compared to boys and youth in urban areas.

Assistência pré-natal e perinatal em Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brasil

Resumo Introdução: O acompanhamento pré-natal e as condutas adotadas durante o parto são essenciais para garantir o bom desenvolvimento da gestação, prevenir complicações e proporcionar um parto saudável, sem impacto na saúde da puérpera e do recém-nascido. Objetivo: Analisar a assistência pré-natal e perinatal oferecida em Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, e verificar se há associação entre a adequação do pré-natal e os fatores socioeconômicos, demográficos, comportamentais e reprodutivos. Métodos: Estudo transversal com base de dados pré-existente. Para a análise da adequação do pré-natal foram utilizados três critérios: 1) início até 16ª semana e número mínimo de consultas de acordo com a idade gestacional; 2) práticas dos profissionais nas consultas de pré-natal; 3) orientações oferecidas às gestantes pelos profissionais. Para a análise dos dados foi utilizada regressão logística multivariada. Resultados: Participaram do estudo 437 puérperas. A assistência pré-natal foi considerada adequada para 72,5%, 93,1% e 50,1% das puérperas, considerando os critérios 1, 2 e 3, respectivamente. As gestantes que apresentaram maior chance de terem o pré-natal inadequado, com relação ao critério 1, foram as com menor escolaridade (RC = 1,68; p = 0,046), que não possuíam companheiro (RC = 2,18; p = 0,002), que não trabalharam durante a gestação (RC = 2,18; p = 0,003) e as que não planejaram a gravidez (RC = 1,76; p = 0,023). Com relação à assistência perinatal, a presença de acompanhante e contato pele a pele foram apropriados, mas a amamentação na primeira hora de vida foi inadequada. Conclusão: Observou-se a necessidade de aprimorar as orientações fornecidas pelos profissionais e incluir a amamentação na primeira hora de vida. Os resultados podem contribuir para otimizar os serviços de saúde materno-infantil em Governador Valadares.

Prenatal and perinatal care in Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais state, Brazil

Abstract Introduction: Prenatal care and the procedures adopted during childbirth are essential to ensure a healthy pregnancy and delivery and prevent complications, without affecting the health of the mother and newborn. Objective: To analyze the prenatal and perinatal care provided in Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais state, Brazil, and to determine whether there is an association between adequate prenatal care and socioeconomic, demographic, behavioral and reproductive factors. Methods: Cross-sectional study with a pre-existing database. The adequacy of prenatal care was analyzed based on three criteria: 1) onset up to the 16th week and a minimum number of checkups according to gestational age; 2) professional practices during prenatal checkups; 3) counseling given to the pregnant women by healthcare professionals. Multivariate logistic regression was used for data analysis. Results: Participants were 437 postpartum women. Prenatal care was considered adequate for 72.5, 93.1 and 50.1% of the participants based on criteria 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The pregnant women who were most likely to receive inadequate prenatal care in relation to criterion 1 were those with the lowest schooling level (OR = 1.68; p = 0.046), who were single (OR = 2.18; p = 0.002), did not work during their pregnancy (OR = 2.18; p = 0.003) and whose pregnancy was unplanned (OR = 1.76; p = 0.023). With respect to perinatal care, the presence of a birth companion and skin-to-skin contact were adequate, but breastfeeding in the first hour of life was not. Conclusion: There is a need to improve the counseling provided by healthcare professionals and include breastfeeding in the first hour of life. The results could contribute to optimizing maternal and child health services in Governador Valadares.

Kratom Use in the US: Both a Regional Phenomenon and a White Middle-Class Phenomenon? Evidence From NSDUH 2019 and an Online Convenience Sample

Kratom products available in the United States are becoming increasingly diverse both in terms of content and in terms of how they are marketed. Prior survey research indicates that kratom has been primarily used in the US to self-treat anxiety, depression, pain, fatigue, and substance use disorder (SUD) symptoms. Kratom is also well-known for its use as a short- or long-term full opioid agonist substitute. Therefore, use may be greater in regions particularly impacted by addiction to prescription opioids. Use may also be greater in demographic groups targeted by media outlets (such as specific podcasts) in which kratom is touted. Here, we aimed to determine whether lifetime and past-year kratom use were associated with region of residence and with being young, White, post-secondary educated, and employed. To strengthen confidence in our findings, we analyzed data from two sources: our own crowdsourced online convenience sample and the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). In our sample (N = 2,615), 11.1% reported lifetime and 6.7% reported past-year kratom use, and the odds of kratom use were higher among people who were White, younger, at least high school educated, employed, and above the poverty line, as well as those reporting nonmedical opioid use, past-year SUD, or lifetime SUD treatment; residence was not a significant predictor. In NSDUH data, suburban residence and other demographic factors, concordant with those from the crowdsourced sample, were associated with kratom use. Taken together, the findings support a general "White middle-class suburban" profile of the modal kratom user, but more research is needed to understand it. In the interim, focus should be on our finding that lifetime nonmedical opioid use was associated with an up to five times greater likelihood of past-year kratom use, suggesting that drug-use history may presently be the strongest predictor of kratom use.

Approaches for Implementing App-Based Digital Treatments for Drug Use Disorders Into Primary Care: A Qualitative, User-Centered Design Study of Patient Perspectives

Background

Digital interventions, such as websites and smartphone apps, can be effective in treating drug use disorders (DUDs). However, their implementation in primary care is hindered, in part, by a lack of knowledge on how patients might like these treatments delivered to them.

Objective

This study aims to increase the understanding of how patients with DUDs prefer to receive app-based treatments to inform the implementation of these treatments in primary care.

Methods

The methods of user-centered design were combined with qualitative research methods to inform the design of workflows for offering app-based treatments in primary care. Adult patients (n=14) with past-year cannabis, stimulant, or opioid use disorder from 5 primary care clinics of Kaiser Permanente Washington in the Seattle area participated in this study. Semistructured interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative template analysis. The coding scheme included deductive codes based on interview topics, which primarily focused on workflow design. Inductive codes emerged from the data.

Results

Participants wanted to learn about apps during visits where drug use was discussed and felt that app-related conversations should be incorporated into the existing care whenever possible, as opposed to creating new health care visits to facilitate the use of the app. Nearly all participants preferred receiving clinician support for using apps over using them without support. They desired a trusting, supportive relationship with a clinician who could guide them as they used the app. Participants wanted follow-up support via phone calls or secure messaging because these modes of communication were perceived as a convenient and low burden (eg, no copays or appointment travel).

Conclusions

A user-centered implementation of treatment apps for DUDs in primary care will require health systems to design workflows that account for patients’ needs for structure, support in and outside of visits, and desire for convenience.

Appreciating contributions more than celebrating resilience: Reflections on the disclosure of substance use in Appalachia

Disclosure of personal substance use often places people who use drugs (PWUD) at risk, both personally and professionally. Yet disclosure can positively influence governmental and organizational policies as well as improve programs meant to serve PWUD. Through numerous autobiographical conversations, six researchers and professionals in their thirties and forties who live in the Appalachian region of the United States examined what it meant for us to discuss our illicit substance use publicly. We examined the limitations of the term "lived experience" and detailed our non-problematic use. Most of us have, at times, experienced negative consequences of substance use, but these consequences are as tied to society's negative responses to substance use as to use itself. When disclosing use, we have often found that others are keen to portray PWUD as resilient, but are less willing to highlight the contributions of PWUD while they are using. We agree that making disclosure more acceptable as well as acknowledging the positive aspects of drug use would alter societal responses to use to be more effective at preventing harm. We conclude by highlighting societal and institutional policy changes that will increase the ability of PWUD to openly disclose use.

Redefining recovery: Accounts of treatment experiences of dependent cannabis users in Nigeria

BACKGROUND

Research on addiction recovery describes recovery as a process leading to cessation of drug use. Few researchers have explored alternative views of recovery, and the interplay of individuals' agency and social context in the recovery process. This study explored situated understandings of recovery among cannabis users that emphasized process and contingency.

METHODS

We conducted the study in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State in Nigeria. Participants were current (street-involved) cannabis users aged 21 to 34 (n = 97), recruited through time-location sampling. The study collected data through in-depth, individual interviews, which study staff transcribed, coded, and analyzed thematically.

RESULTS

Participants' accounts indicated a quest for treatment as a means of recovery and redemption (i.e., repairing an identity damaged by dependent cannabis use). Relapse affected recovery when participants defined the latter as abstinence. Framing recovery this way showed the effects of social and structural factors on individual agency and treatment experiences. Yet some participants' accounts highlighted a redefinition of recovery as a process ("recovering"), measured by such outcomes as reduced drug use and improved overall well-being.

CONCLUSIONS

Reframing recovery, as some participants' accounts in our study capture, speaks to the need for treatment programs that are informed by the principles of harm reduction and health promotion. Instead of foisting a singular treatment goal defined as total abstinence onto drug users seeking treatment, treatment should be attuned to the experiences and life circumstances of users and support them in achieving their recovery goals.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing Among People Who Inject Drugs in Rural West Virginia

BACKGROUND

Limited research exists on factors associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing among people who inject drugs (PWID) in rural America. The purpose of this research is to identify factors associated with rural PWID in Appalachia having not been tested for HIV in the past year.

METHODS

Cross-sectional data (n = 408) from a 2018 PWID population estimation study in West Virginia were used to examine factors associated with PWID having not been tested for HIV in the past year.

RESULTS

Most participants identified as male (61%), white, non-Hispanic (84%), and reported having recently injected heroin (81%) and/or crystal methamphetamine (71%). Most (64%) reported having been tested for HIV in the past year, 17% reported having been tested but not in the past year, and 19% reported never having been tested. In multivariable analysis, not having been in a drug treatment program in the past year was associated with PWID not having been tested for HIV in the past year (adjusted prevalence ratio, 1.430; 95% confidence interval, 1.080-1.894).

CONCLUSIONS

Drug treatment programs may be important venues for rural PWID to access HIV testing; however, testing services should be offered at multiple venues as most PWID had not engaged in drug treatment in the past year.

Barriers and Facilitators to PrEP Use Among People Who Inject Drugs in Rural Appalachia: A Qualitative Study

The opioid crisis has increased risks for injection drug use-associated HIV outbreaks in rural communities throughout the United States. Existing research has examined pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) utilization among people who inject drugs (PWID); however, no studies have been conducted to explore barriers and facilitators of PrEP use among rural PWID in Appalachia. We conducted qualitative interviews with PWID (n = 48) in two rural counties in West Virginia to explore barriers and facilitators of PrEP use. Among our participants, the majority (68.8%) had never heard of PrEP. Upon learning about PrEP, most participants expressed willingness to use it. Rural PWID described several factors that may impede PrEP utilization (e.g., housing instability, forgetting to take PrEP). Participants also identified practical strategies to support sustained PrEP utilization, such as integrating PrEP services into venues PWID access. This research provides important insights into the barriers and facilitators of PrEP utilization among rural PWID.

On my own terms: Motivations for self-treating opioid-use disorder with non-prescribed buprenorphine

INTRODUCTION

The opioid overdose crisis in the United States has prompted an expansion of treatment services, including pharmacotherapy with buprenorphine. However, many people who use illicit opioids (PWUIO) self-treat their opioid-use disorder (OUD) with non-prescribed buprenorphine (NPB) in lieu of attending formal treatment. The present study aims to qualitatively understand motivations of people who are self-treating their OUD with NPB.

METHODS

Qualitative study designed to supplement and contextualize quantitative findings from natural history study of buprenorphine diversion, self-treatment, and use of substance use disorder treatment services. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, systematically coded and analyzed via Iterative Categorization.

STUDY SETTING

The Dayton, Ohio metropolitan area in the midwestern United States; a site previously characterized as high impact in the national opioid overdose crisis.

PARTICIPANTS

Sixty-five individuals (35 men and 30 women) who met the DSM-5 criteria for OUD (moderate or severe) and had used NPB at least one time in the six months prior to their intake interview.

RESULTS

Participants described four key motivators for self-treating with NPB: perceived demands of formal treatment, the desire to utilize non-prescribed buprenorphine in combination with a geographic relocation, to self-initiate treatment while preparing for formal services, and to bolster a sense of self-determination and agency in their recovery trajectory.

CONCLUSIONS

Use of NPB is a recognized self-treatment modality among PWUIO, with some PWUIO transitioning into sustained recovery episodes or enrollment in formal treatment. Understanding the motivations for opting out of treatment is crucial for improving forms of care for people with OUD.

A Pilot Study of a Telemedicine-based Substance Use Disorder Evaluation to Enhance Access to Treatment Following Near-Fatal Opioid Overdose

The opioid epidemic is a growing public health emergency in the United States, with deaths from opioid overdose having increased five-fold since 1999. Emergency departments (EDs) are the primary sites of medical care after near-fatal opioid overdose but are poorly equipped to provide adequate substance use treatment planning prior to discharge. In many underserved locales, limited access to clinicians trained in addiction medicine and behavioral health exacerbates this disparity. In an effort to improve post-overdose care in the ED, we developed a telemedicine protocol to facilitate timely access to substance use disorder evaluations. In this paper, we describe the conception and refinement of the telemedicine program, our experience with the first 20 participants, and potential implications of the platform on health disparities for individuals with opioid use disorder.

Perspectives on Fentanyl Test Strip Use among People Who Inject Drugs in Rural Appalachia

Background: Fentanyl-associated overdose fatalities have increased dramatically throughout the United States. Fentanyl test strips (FTS) may be used by people who inject drugs (PWID) to lower overdose risks; however, virtually no research has been conducted to understand the perspectives of rural PWID in Appalachia on FTS utilization. Objectives: We aim to explore FTS awareness and potential use among PWID in two rural counties in West Virginia (WV). Methods: Semi-structured interviews with PWID (n = 48) in two rural counties in WV were conducted to explore FTS awareness, potential use, and possible behavioral changes following FTS utilization. Participants were recruited in areas where PWID congregate in each county. With participants' permission, interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Transcripts were analyzed using an iterative, constant comparative approach. Results: Very few participants had heard of FTS prior to the interview. Upon learning about FTS, PWID who reported frequently injecting heroin expressed high willingness to use FTS. Participants explained that learning their drugs contained fentanyl may make them more likely to engage in overdose risk reduction behaviors, such as: using less, doing tester shots, and not using the drugs entirely. Conclusion: Among our sample of rural PWID in Appalachia, most were unaware of FTS but expressed high willingness to utilize the technology. Participants described how receiving a positive FTS result may lead them to engage in overdose risk reduction behaviors. Augmenting existing overdose prevention initiatives in rural Appalachia such that rural PWID have access to FTS may result in reductions in overdose fatalities.

Rural Location and Relative Location: Adding Community Context to the Study of Sexual Assault Survivor Time Until Presentation for Medical Care

Despite a strong empirical base linking community context and proximity to resources to individual health care access, studies examining predictors of sexual assault survivor time until presentation for medical care have not yet examined these relationships. This study addresses this gap. The data included retrospective records on a sample of 1,630 female survivors who reported their sexual assault to law enforcement and were subsequently seen by a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) in one of eight Alaskan communities between the years 1996 and 2006. Logistic regression models were used to determine whether delays in presentation (presentation 12 hr or more after assault) differed for women presenting in unique communities (rural location), and between those whose assault and exam occurred in different communities versus occurring in the same community (relative location). Although rural location did not seem to have a unique impact on time until presentation, differing locations (i.e., relative location) of assaults and exams increased the likelihood of delays in presentation. Non-American Indian/Alaska Native race/ethnicity and knowing one's assailant(s) also increased the likelihood of delays. These results indicate that in addition to a need for further research, there is a need for more appropriate and reliable sexual assault medical services across communities, and that survivors assaulted by known assailants should be targeted in efforts to reduce time until presentation.

Understanding the public health consequences of suspending a rural syringe services program: a qualitative study of the experiences of people who inject drugs

BACKGROUND

Syringe services programs (SSPs) are evidence-based interventions that are associated with decreases in prevalence and incidence rates of HIV and viral hepatitis among people who inject drugs (PWID). SSPs are also effective conduits to deliver overdose prevention resources among PWID. In December 2015, the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department (KCHD) in West Virginia implemented a SSP; however, the program was indefinitely suspended in early 2018 following policy changes that would have forced the program to operate in ways that conflicted with established best practices. The purpose of this research is to explore the public health implications of the suspension of the KCHD SSP among rural PWID.

METHODS

We conducted semi-structured interviews with 27 PWID (59.3% male, 88.9% White) to explore access to sterile injection equipment and overdose prevention resources, high-risk injection practices, and HIV risk perceptions following the KCHD SSP suspension. Participants were recruited from street locations frequented by PWID. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. We employed an iterative, modified constant comparison approach to systematically code and synthesize textual interview data.

RESULTS

Participants described the KCHD SSP as providing a variety of harm reduction services to PWID and being able to speak honestly with SSP staff about their drug use without fear of stigmatization. The suspension of the KCHD SSP fundamentally changed the public health landscape for PWID, ushering in a new era of increased risks for acquiring bloodborne infections and overdose. PWID described more frequently injecting with used syringes and engaging in a range of high-risk injection practices after the SSP was suspended. PWID also discussed having decreased access to naloxone and being less likely to get routinely tested for HIV following the KCHD SSP suspension.

CONCLUSIONS

This research demonstrates that the suspension of a SSP in rural West Virginia increased risks for HIV/HCV acquisition and overdose among PWID. The suspension of the SSP led to community-wide decreases in access to sterile injection equipment and naloxone among PWID. The suspension of the KCHD SSP should be viewed as a call to action for sustaining evidence-based interventions in the face of sociopolitical forces that attempt to subvert public health.

Predictors of mental health and substance use disorder treatment use over 3 years among rural adults using stimulants

Background: Persons using substances, living in rural communities, tend to underutilize mental health (MH) and substance use disorder (SUD) treatment compared with their urban peers. However, no studies have examined longitudinal predictors of MH and SUD treatment use among rural persons using stimulants. Methods: Data were collected through interviews conducted between 2002 and 2008 from a natural history study of 710 adults using stimulants and living in rural counties of Arkansas, Kentucky, and Ohio. Each study site recruited participants using respondent-driven sampling (RDS). Participants were adults, not in drug treatment, and reporting past-30-day use of methamphetamine, crack cocaine, or powder cocaine. Study participants completed face-to-face baseline assessments and follow-up interviews using computer-assisted personal interviews. Follow-up interviews were conducted at 6-month intervals for 3 years. Results: Our results show that being male, nonwhite, and having a prior lifetime history of MH or SUD treatment use were associated with lower odds of using MH and SUD treatment over time; having medical insurance and living in a state with potentially greater availability of MH and SUD treatment were associated with higher odds of using MH and SUD treatment over the 3-year period. Further, reporting greater legal problems and alcohol severity were associated with greater odds of using MH and SUD care, whereas greater employment problems was associated with higher odds of SUD but not MH treatment use. Conclusions: Findings from this study could be used to inform clinical and public health strategies for improving linkage to MH and SUD care in this population. Our findings also highlight the importance of having medical insurance as a potential facilitator to utilizing SUD care in this population and support the need for health care policies that increase the ability of rural adults who use stimulants to pay for such services.

Clinician identified barriers to treatment for individuals in Appalachia with opioid use disorder following release from prison: a social ecological approach

BACKGROUND

The non-medical use of opioids has reached epidemic levels nationwide, and rural areas have been particularly affected by increasing rates of overdose mortality as well as increases in the prison population. Individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) are at increased risk for relapse and overdose upon reentry to the community due to decreased tolerance during incarceration. It is crucial to identify barriers to substance use disorder treatment post-release from prison because treatment can be particularly difficult to access in resource-limited rural Appalachia.

METHODS

A social ecological framework was utilized to examine barriers to community-based substance use treatment among individuals with OUD in Appalachian Kentucky following release from prison. Semi-structured qualitative interviews with 15 social service clinicians (SSCs) employed by the Department of Corrections were conducted to identify barriers at the individual, interpersonal, organizational/institutional level, community, and systems levels. Two independent coders conducted line-by-line coding to identify key themes.

RESULTS

Treatment barriers were identified across the social ecological spectrum. At the individual-level, SSCs highlighted high-risk drug use and a lack of motivation. At the interpersonal level, homogenous social networks (i.e., homophilious drug-using networks) and networks with limited treatment knowledge inhibited treatment. SSC's high case load and probation/parole officer's limited understanding of treatment were organizational/institutional barriers. Easy access to opioids, few treatment resources, and a lack of community support for treatment were barriers at the community level. SSC's noted system-level barriers such as lack of transportation options, cost, and uncertainty about the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

CONCLUSIONS

More rural infrastructure resources as well as additional education for family networks, corrections staff, and the community at large in Appalachia are needed to address barriers to OUD treatment. Future research should examine barriers from the perspective of other key stakeholders (e.g., clients, families of clients) and test interventions to increase access to OUD treatment.

Review of the effects of self-stigma and perceived social stigma on the treatment-seeking decisions of individuals with drug- and alcohol-use disorders

Substance-use disorders are a public health crisis globally and carry with them significant morbidity and mortality. Stigma toward people who abuse these substances, as well as the internalization of that stigma by substance users, is widespread. In this review, we synthesized the available evidence for the role of perceived social stigma and self-stigma in people’s willingness to seek treatment. While stigma may be frequently cited as a barrier to treatment in some samples, the degree of its impact on decision-making regarding treatment varied widely. More research needs to be done to standardize the definition and measurement of self- and perceived social stigma to fully determine the magnitude of their effect on treatment-seeking decisions.

Epidemiology of adolescent substance use in Norfolk schools

BACKGROUND

The pattern of alcohol and substance use is changing, with the introduction of novel psychoactive substances, the internet as a means of acquisition and variations in drug purity and price. Alcohol and substance use among adolescents is associated with behavioural, mental health, health and social difficulties; arising at a vulnerable period in their development. Little is known about adolescent substance use in the UK, especially in rural areas.

AIM

To investigate the prevalence of substance use amongst young people, aged 16-21 years, in Norfolk schools.

DESIGN

Cross sectional questionnaire survey.

METHOD

Pupils from two, sixth form colleges in Norfolk answered a self-report questionnaire designed to measure prevalence, age of onset and frequency of use for alcohol, tobacco, illicit substances including new psychoactive substances as well as demographic data.

RESULTS

A total of 482 students completed the survey (68% participation rate). Life-time use of alcohol was reported by 442 (91.7%) students and over half the pupils had tried tobacco (52.5%, n=253). About 40.7% reported cannabis use and nearly one-fifth (18.9%, n=91) reported using 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA); 41.1% (n=198) students reported using 'any drug' and 23.2% (n=112) 'using an illicit drug other than cannabis' and 8.7% (n=42) reported the use of a novel psychoactive substance.

CONCLUSION

The most widely used substances were alcohol, tobaccos and cannabis; in keeping with European trends. Over the past decade a decline in alcohol and drug use by adolescents has been seen in the UK. However, since 2010 this decline has slowed with an increase in substance use noted in the past 2 years. This study provides evidence to support this trend. The findings demonstrate differences between the use of substances by pupils in this Norfolk sample compared to national surveys and more urbanized areas. These regional differences can be used to assist the development of local interventions targeting substance use among adolescents.

A descriptive analysis of drugged driving among rural DUI offenders

OBJECTIVE

Although driving under the influence (DUI) arrests occur at higher rates in rural areas and previous studies have shown more extensive drug use histories, little is known about how this relates to the prevalence and frequency of drugged driving. The present study examined drug use and drugged driving patterns among a sample of rural DUI offenders.

METHODS

Convicted rural DUI offenders (N = 118) completed a one-time, confidential research interview focused on drug use and drugged driving. A descriptive analysis was performed to examine the lifetime and past-year prevalence and frequency of drugged driving while under the influence of different drugs.

RESULTS

Approximately three fourths of the sample (77%) reported driving after illicit drug use in their lifetime and more than half of the sample (60%) reported doing so in the past year. Similar percentages of lifetime (86%) and past-year (81%) illicit drug users reported driving under the influence of at least one illicit drug. Illicit drug users reported a median of 240 lifetime and 16 past-year drugged driving episodes. Among those who reported ever driving after illicit drug use, marijuana (65%), prescription opioids (49%), and sedatives/tranquilizers/barbiturates (45%) were the most prevalent drugs involved in participants' drugged driving episodes.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that rural DUI offenders have extensive illicit drug use histories and frequently engage in drugged driving, posing a significant threat to public safety. Additional research on the characteristics of rural drugged drivers and their drug use and driving patterns is needed to inform the development of targeted interventions.

A scoping review of opioid misuse in the rural United States

INTRODUCTION

This study is a scoping review of the original research literature onthe misuse of opioids in the rural United States (US) and maps theliterature of interest to address the question: What does theoriginal research evidence reveal about the misuse of opioids inrural US communities?

METHODS

This study used a modified preferred reporting items for systematicreviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) approach which is organized byfive distinct elements or steps: beginning with a clearly formulatedquestion, using the question to develop clear inclusion criteria toidentify relevant studies, using an approach to appraise the studiesor a subset of the studies, summarizing the evidence using anexplicit methodology, and interpreting the findings of the review.

RESULTS

The initial search yielded 119 peer reviewed articles and aftercoding, 41 papers met the inclusion criteria. Researcher generatedsurveys constituted the most frequent source of data. Most studieshad a significant quantitative dimension to them. All the studieswere observational or cross-sectional by design.

CONCLUSIONS

This analysis found an emerging research literature that hasgenerated evidence supporting the claim that rural US residents andcommunities suffer a disproportionate burden from the misuseof opioidscompared to their urban or metropolitan counterparts.

Intensive referral to mutual-help groups: A field trial of adaptations for rural veterans

OBJECTIVE

A multisite field trial testing whether improved outcomes associated with intensive referral to mutual help groups (MHGs) could be maintained after the intervention was adapted for the circumstances and needs of rural veterans in treatment for substance use disorder (SUD).

METHODS

In three Veterans Affairs treatment programs in the Midwest, patients (N=195) received standard referral (SR) or rural-adapted intensive referral (RAIR) and were measured at baseline and 6-month follow-up.

RESULTS

Both groups reported significant improvement at 6-months, but no significant differences between SR and RAIR groups in MHG participation, substance use, addiction severity, and posttraumatic stress symptoms. Inconsistent delivery of the intervention resulted in only one-third of the RAIR group receiving the full three sessions, but this group reported significantly greater 6-month abstinence from alcohol than those receiving no sessions.

CONCLUSION

Further research should explore implementation problems and determine whether consistent delivery of the intervention enhances 12-step facilitation.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

The addition of rural-specific elements to the original intensive referral intervention has not been shown to increase its effectiveness among rural veterans.

Acceptability of HIV Testing Sites Among Rural and Urban African Americans Who Use Cocaine

African Americans (AAs) who use cocaine in the Southern region of the U.S. have a relatively high risk of HIV and need for HIV testing. Among this group, those residing in rural areas may have less favorable opinions about common HIV testing sites, which could inhibit HIV testing. We examined rural/urban variations in their acceptability of multiple HIV testing sites (private physician clinic, local health department, community health center, community HIV fair, hospital emergency department, blood plasma donation center, drug abuse treatment facility, and mobile van or community outreach worker). Results from partial proportional odds and logistic regression analyses indicate that rural AA who use cocaine have lower odds of viewing local health departments (OR = 0.09, 95 % CI = 0.03-0.21), physician offices (OR = 0.19, 95 % CI = 0.09-0.42), and drug use treatment centers (OR = 0.49; 95 % CI = 0.30-0.80) as acceptable relative to their urban counterparts. The findings have implications for further targeting HIV testing toward AAs who use of cocaine, particularly those residing in the rural South.

Barriers to accessing methamphetamine treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Methamphetamine use is associated with a range of poor health, social and justice outcomes. In many parts of the world increased methamphetamine use has been identified as a major public health concern. Methamphetamine treatment programmes have been effective in reducing and ceasing use, however a range of barriers have prevented these programmes being widely adopted by methamphetamine users. This review examines the barriers to accessing meth/amphetamine treatment identified in the literature.

METHODS

Databases were systematically searched using relevant terms for peer-reviewed articles describing original research exploring the barriers to accessing treatment for meth/amphetamine use. Reviews and grey literature were excluded. Eleven studies conducted in 5 countries were included in data synthesis; this involved a systematic review of all 11 studies, and meta-analysis of the prevalence of barriers reported in 6 studies that published sufficient quantitative data.

RESULTS

Psychosocial/internal barriers to accessing methamphetamine treatment were most prevalent across studies (10/11 studies). Meta-analysis confirmed the four most commonly endorsed barriers to treatment access across studies all psychosocial barriers were embarrassment or stigma (60%, 95% CI: 54-67%); belief that treatment was unnecessary (59%, 95% CI:54-65%); preferring to withdraw alone without assistance (55%, 95% CI:45-65); and privacy concerns (51%, 95% CI:44-59%).

CONCLUSIONS

The primary barriers to accessing methamphetamine treatment are psychosocial/internal. Services and treatment models that address these barriers are urgently required. There is a growing need for methamphetamine-appropriate treatment services. Further research evaluating treatment engagement and effectiveness for methamphetamine and polysubstance use, including the development of effective pharmacotherapies is warranted.

The Criminal Justice Experience of African American Cocaine Users in Arkansas

BACKGROUND

African Americans are incarcerated at rates much higher than other racial and ethnic groups in the United States.

OBJECTIVES

We sought to qualitatively explore the relationships between ongoing involvement in the criminal justice system and continued drug use in a population of urban and rural African American cocaine users in a southern state.

METHODS

Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted among African American cocaine users in Arkansas between 2010 and 2012. Participants resided in both rural (two counties located in the eastern Arkansas Mississippi delta region) and urban (the county including the capital city of Little Rock) areas.

RESULTS

Numerous important themes emerged from participants' narratives, including chronic involvement with the criminal justice system (being a "career criminal"), continued access to drugs while incarcerated, relapse, and reincarceration and lack of access to effective drug treatment. Conclusion/Importance: The themes which emerged from our data speak to the collective experience that many substance using populations in the United States face in dealing with the criminal justice system. Our findings highlight the need to better, more holistic ways of engaging African American substance users in community based substance use treatment and supportive services.

The Role of Social Capital in African Americans' Attempts to Reduce and Quit Cocaine Use

BACKGROUND

Research examining substance users' recovery has focused on individual-level outcomes while paying limited attention to the contexts within which individuals are embedded, and the social processes involved in recovery.

OBJECTIVES

This paper examines factors underlying African American cocaine users' decisions to reduce or quit cocaine use and uses practice theory to understand how lifestyle changes and shifts in social networks facilitate access to the capital needed to change cocaine use patterns.

METHODS

The study, an in-depth analysis of substance-use life history interviews carried out from 2010 to 2012, included 51 currently not-in-treatment African American cocaine users in the Arkansas Mississippi Delta region. A blended inductive and deductive approach to data analysis was used to examine the socio-cultural and economic processes shaping cocaine use and recovery.

RESULTS

The majority of participants reported at least one lifetime attempt to reduce or quit cocaine use; motivations to reduce use or quit included desires to meet social role expectations, being tired of using, and incarceration. Abstinence-supporting networks, participation in conventional activities, and religious and spiritual practices afforded access to capital, facilitating cocaine use reduction and sobriety.

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions designed to increase connection to and support from nondrug using family and friends with access to recovery capital (e.g., employment, faith community, and education) might be ideal methods to reduce substance use among minorities in low-income, resource-poor communities.

Screening and Follow-Up Monitoring for Substance Use in Primary Care: An Exploration of Rural-Urban Variations

BACKGROUND

Rates of substance use in rural areas are close to those of urban areas. While recent efforts have emphasized integrated care as a promising model for addressing workforce shortages in providing behavioral health services to those living in medically underserved regions, little is known on how substance use problems are addressed in rural primary care settings.

OBJECTIVE

To examine rural-urban variations in screening and monitoring primary care- based patients for substance use problems in a state-wide mental health integration program.

DESIGN

This was an observational study using patient registry.

SUBJECTS

The study included adult enrollees (n = 15,843) with a mental disorder from 133 participating community health clinics.

MAIN OUTCOMES

We measured whether a standardized substance use instrument was used to screen patients at treatment entry and to monitor symptoms at follow-up visits.

KEY RESULTS

While on average 73.6 % of patients were screened for substance use, follow-up on substance use problems after initial screening was low (41.4 %); clinics in small/isolated rural settings appeared to be the lowest (13.6 %). Patients who were treated for a mental disorder or substance abuse in the past and who showed greater psychiatric complexities were more likely to receive a screening, whereas patients of small, isolated rural clinics and those traveling longer distances to the care facility were least likely to receive follow-up monitoring for their substance use problems.

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the prevalent substance misuse among patients with mental disorders, opportunities to screen this high-risk population for substance use and provide a timely follow-up for those identified as at risk remained overlooked in both rural and urban areas. Rural residents continue to bear a disproportionate burden of substance use problems, with rural-urban disparities found to be most salient in providing the continuum of services for patients with substance use problems in primary care.

Prevalência e fatores associados ao uso de drogas ilícitas em gestantes da coorte BRISA

Resumo O artigo objetiva analisar a prevalência e fatores associados ao uso de drogas ilícitas na gestação. Estudo transversal, aninhado à coorte pré-natal do estudo de coorte BRISA. Utilizou-se medidas de frequência e modelo de regressão logística múltipla hierarquizada. A prevalência estimada foi de 1,45% para o uso de drogas ilícitas, 22,32% para o uso de bebidas alcóolicas e 4,22% para o de cigarro. A população mostrou-se jovem, de 20-34 anos de idade (81%), com escolaridade de 9-11 anos de estudos (75,55%), com mais da metade das mulheres fora da população economicamente ativa (52,18%) e na classe econômica “C” (67,61%). As gestantes apresentaram nível de estresse elevado (24,46%), sintomas de ansiedade de moderada a intensa (40,84%) e sintomas depressivos graves (28,8%). Aproximadamente metade (49,72%) das gestantes relatou ter sofrido algum tipo de violência, tendo a maioria ampla rede (72,77%) e baixo apoio social (65,21%). Uso de drogas lícitas, níveis altos de estresse e monoparentalidade foram os fatores independentemente associados ao uso de drogas ilícitas na gestação.

Alcohol problem recognition and help seeking in adolescents and young adults at varying genetic and environmental risk

INTRODUCTION

Alcohol use disorder symptoms frequently occur in adolescents and younger adults who seldom acknowledge a need for help. We identified sociodemographic, clinical, and familial predictors of alcohol problem recognition and help seeking in an offspring of twin sample.

METHOD

We analyzed longitudinal data from the Children of Alcoholics and Twins as Parents studies, which are combinable longitudinal data sources due to their equivalent design. We analyzed respondents (n=1073, 56.0% of the total sample) with alcohol use disorder symptoms at the baseline interview. Familial characteristics included perceptions of alcohol problems and help seeking for alcohol problems within the immediate family and a categorical variable indicating genetic and environmental risk. We used logistic regression to examine predictors of alcohol problem recognition and help seeking.

RESULTS

Approximately 25.9% recognized their alcohol problems and 26.7% sought help for drinking. In covariate-adjusted analyses, help seeking among family members predicted problem recognition, several clinical characteristics predicted both problem recognition and help seeking, and familial risk predicted help seeking. Alcohol problem recognition mediated the association between alcohol use disorder symptoms and incident help seeking.

CONCLUSIONS

Facilitating the self-recognition of alcohol use disorder symptoms, and perhaps the awareness of family members' help seeking for alcohol problems, may be potentially promising methods to facilitate help seeking.

Barriers and Facilitators to Substance Use Treatment in the Rural South: A Qualitative Study

PURPOSE

Little qualitative research has examined factors associated with care in substance abuse treatment agencies in Southeastern rural communities. This study explored client- and agency stakeholder-perceived barriers and facilitators to substance use treatment delivery in southeastern rural communities.

METHODS

Group and individual interviews were conducted with 40 key stakeholders and 40 clients at 9 substance abuse agencies serving rural communities in a southeastern state. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to identify perceived barriers and facilitators to substance abuse services in rural communities.

FINDINGS

Four primary themes emerged from the client and stakeholder interviews as both barriers and facilitators: availability of services for individuals with substance use disorders; access to the current technology for client services and agency functioning; cost of services; and stigma.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identifies novel barriers and facilitators to substance use care in the rural South and highlights essential areas for consideration when developing and implementing substance use care in this geographic region. These findings can be used as guidelines to provide better care to individuals with substance use disorders living in rural communities.

Alcohol, Isolation, and Access to Treatment: Family Physician Experiences of Alcohol Consumption and Access to Health Care in Rural British Columbia

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this project was to study the experiences of physicians who treat persons with alcohol-attributed diseases in rural areas of British Columbia, Canada.

METHOD

A cross-sectional survey was distributed to primary health care physicians that had a family practice in a designated rural community using the Rural Coordination Centre of British Columbia's community isolation rating system. Data were collected through a mail and online survey sent to primary health care physicians. Purposeful sampling was used to select participants that had a primary health care practice in a designated rural community.

RESULTS

Surveys were returned by 22% of potential participants (N = 67) that had an average of 15.8 years in family practice. The majority of participants (95.4%) reported that alcohol had a negative impact on population health, and physicians expressed particular concern for alcohol consumption in relation to mental health (85.1%) and physical illness (82.1%). Most participants had referred patients out of the community for treatment; however, 76.4% reported difficulty with referrals, including long wait-lists, limited services, and issues related to transportation and leaving the community for substance use treatment.

CONCLUSION

Rural physicians showed an awareness and concern for alcohol consumption in their community, but they also reported difficulties referring patients for substance use treatment. Additional study is required to understand how to improve the continuity of care provided to persons with alcohol-related issues in rural British Columbia.

African American cocaine users' preferred treatment site: variations by rural/urban residence, stigma, and treatment effectiveness

To encourage access, policy makers and providers need information about variations in drug users' treatment preferences. This study examined how rural/urban residence, stigma surrounding drug use, and perceived treatment availability and effectiveness are associated with African American cocaine users' preferences for the site of treatment (local, or in one's home town; nearby, or in a town nearby; and distant, or in a town farther away). Two hundred rural and 200 urban cocaine users were recruited using respondent-driven sampling and completed in-person interviews. Multinomial logit regression analyses were conducted to estimate the relative odds of preferring local vs. nearby and local vs. distant treatment. Rural cocaine users preferred distant (58%), and urban users preferred local (57%) treatment. Rural residence and a lifetime history of treatment were associated with higher odds of preferring nearby vs. local treatment; older age and greater perceived local treatment effectiveness were associated with lower odds of preferring nearby vs. local treatment. Rural residence, access to an automobile, higher rejection/discrimination stigma scores, and higher Brief Symptom Inventory-Global Severity Index scores were associated with higher odds of preferring distant vs. local treatment; older age, lower educational attainment, and greater perceived discrimination after treatment were associated with lower odds of preferring distant vs. local treatment. The findings from this study suggest that a regional approach to organizing drug use treatment services could better satisfy the preferences of rural African American cocaine users, whereas local treatment services should be expanded to meet the needs of urban cocaine users.

Intervention with substance-abusing mothers: Are there rural-urban differences?

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to examine rural-urban differences among substance-abusing mothers enrolled in the Parent-Child Assistance Program (PCAP) from 1998 to 2008 in Washington State.

METHODS

This was a longitudinal study utilizing PCAP data reports of 773 women enrolled from 1998 to 2008. Differences across urban-rural PCAP participants were examined.

RESULTS

Rural participants were more likely to report alcohol use and binge drinking at program intake and at the 3-year program exit. In addition, throughout the program, rural women were less likely to complete outpatient substance abuse treatment compared to urban participants. Rural women also used less services during the last year including alcohol/drug support and mental health provider services. Findings are troubling when we consider that at program exit, rural participants also reported higher use of alcohol and more suicidal thoughts than those residing in urban areas.

CONCLUSIONS AND SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE

Data presented indicate there are important differences between urban and rural residing participants. Findings highlight the importance of considering the barriers that rural or remote locations might create. Identifying community-specific needs of substance abusing pregnant or parenting women in both rural and urban settings is crucial for the successful development and improvement of treatment and intervention programs for this vulnerable population of women. (Am J Addict 2014;XX:1-9).

Cognitive-behavioral therapy in depressed primary care patients with co-occurring problematic alcohol use: effect of telephone-administered vs. face-to-face treatment-a secondary analysis

This secondary analysis of a larger study compared adherence to telephone-administered cognitive-behavioral therapy (T-CBT) vs. face-to-face CBT and depression outcomes in depressed primary care patients with co-occurring problematic alcohol use. To our knowledge, T-CBT has never been directly compared to face-to-face CBT in such a sample of primary care patients. Participants were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to face-to-face CBT or T-CBT for depression. Participants receiving T-CBT (n = 50) and face-to-face CBT (n = 53) were compared at baseline, end of treatment (week 18), and three-month and six-month follow-ups. Face-to-face CBT and T-CBT groups did not significantly differ in age, sex, ethnicity, marital status, educational level, severity of depression, antidepressant use, and total score on the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. Face-to-face CBT and T-CBT groups were similar on all treatment adherence outcomes and depression outcomes at all time points. T-CBT and face-to-face CBT had similar treatment adherence and efficacy for the treatment of depression in depressed primary care patients with co-occurring problematic alcohol use. When targeting patients who might have difficulties in accessing care, primary care clinicians may consider both types of CBT delivery when treating depression in patients with co-occurring problematic alcohol use.

Barriers to substance abuse treatment in rural and urban communities: counselor perspectives

The purpose of this study is to compare rural and urban substance abuse counselors' perceptions of barriers to providing effective treatment services. Data were collected from 28 substance abuse counselors in Kentucky during four focus group sessions in 2008. Line-by-line coding and memoing were used by two raters on the transcribed data to isolate findings. The results of this study suggest that, though rural and urban counselors encounter similar constraints that hamper successful treatment outcomes, rural counselors are subject to special circumstances within their communities that present unique challenges to treatment efficacy. Novel contributions, implications, and limitations are also discussed.

Patterns, determinants and barriers of health and social service utilization among young urban crack users in Brazil

Background

Crack use is prevalent across the Americas, and specifically among marginalized urban street drug users in Brazil. Crack users commonly feature multiple physical and mental health problems, while low rates of and distinct barriers to help service use have been observed in these populations. This study examined profiles and determinants of social and health service utilization, and unmet service needs, in a two-city sample of young (18–24 years), marginalized crack users in Brazil.

Methods

N = 160 study participants were recruited by community-based methods from impoverished neighborhoods in the cities of Rio de Janeiro (n = 81) and Salvador (n = 79). A mixed methods protocol was used. Participants’ drug use, health, and social and health service utilization characteristics were assessed by an anonymous interviewer-administered questionnaire completed in a community setting; descriptive statistics on variables of interest were computed. Service needs and barriers were further assessed by way of several focus groups with the study population; narrative data were qualitatively analyzed. The study protocol was approved by institutional ethics review boards; data were collected between November 2010 and June 2011.

Results

The majority of the sample was male, without stable housing, and used other drugs (e.g., alcohol, marijuana). About half the sample reported physical and mental health problems, yet most had not received medical attention for these problems. Only small minorities had utilized locally available social or health services; utilization appeared to be influenced by sex, race and housing characteristics in both sites. Participants cited limited service resources, lack of needs-specific professional skills, bureaucratic barriers and stigma as obstacles to better service access. However, most respondents stated strong interest and need for general social, health and treatment services designed for the study population, for which various key features were emphasized as important.

Conclusions

The study contributes substantive evidence to current discussions about the development and utilization of health and treatment interventions for crack use in Brazil. Based on our data, crack users’ social, service needs are largely unmet; these gaps appear to partly root in systemic barriers of access to existing services, while improved targeted service offers for the target population seem to be needed also.

Causes, consequences, and prevention of burnout among substance abuse treatment counselors: a rural versus urban comparison

Substance abuse counselors are vulnerable to burnout, which has negative repercussions for the counselor, employing organization, and clients. However, little is known about differences in counselor burnout from the counselors' perspective in rural versus urban treatment centers. In 2008, focus group data from 28 rural and urban counselors in a southern state were analyzed, revealing three burnout themes across all counselors: causes, consequences, and prevention. However, there were various differences between rural and urban counselors in subthemes, with only rural counselors citing office politics and low occupational prestige as causes of burnout. Only urban counselors reported responses endorsing the subthemes of role reversal, clients trying to choose their counselors, and changing jobs as consequences of burnout. All counselors cited coworker support, clinical supervision, and self-care as important strategies for managing burnout. In sum, context clearly matters as rural counselors cited more causes of burnout; yet, the implications of burnout are universal in that they often lead to poor quality clinical care. There is a continued need for greater understanding of addiction as a disease, which would reduce stigma, especially in rural areas, as well as increase the prestige and earning potential of the substance abuse counseling occupation.

The Religious and Spiritual Dimensions of Cutting Down and Stopping Cocaine Use: A Qualitative Exploration Among African Americans in the South

This study qualitatively examines the religious and spiritual dimensions of cutting down and stopping cocaine use among African Americans in rural and urban areas of Arkansas. The analyses compare and contrast the narrative data of 28 current cocaine users living in communities where the Black church plays a fundamental role in the social and cultural lives of many African Americans, highlighting the ways that participants used religious symbols, idiomatic expression, and Biblical scriptures to interpret and make sense of their substance-use experiences. Participants drew on diverse religious and spiritual beliefs and practices, including participation in organized religion, reliance on a personal relationship with God, and God's will to cut down and stop cocaine use. Our findings suggest that culturally sensitive interventions addressing the influence of religion and spirituality in substance use are needed to reduce cocaine use and promote recovery in this at-risk, minority population.

A qualitative analysis of provider barriers and solutions to HIV testing for substance users in a small, largely rural southern state

PURPOSE

Integrating HIV testing programs into substance use treatment is a promising avenue to help increase access to HIV testing for rural drug users. Yet few outpatient substance abuse treatment facilities in the United States provide HIV testing. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers to incorporating HIV testing with substance use treatment from the perspectives of treatment and testing providers in Arkansas.

METHODS

We used purposive sampling from state directories to recruit providers at state, organization, and individual levels to participate in this exploratory study. Using an interview guide, the first and second authors conducted semistructured individual interviews in each provider's office or by telephone. All interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and entered into ATLAS.ti software (ATLAS.ti Scientific Software Development GmbH, Berlin, Germany). We used constant comparison and content analysis techniques to identify codes, categories, and primary patterns in the data.

FINDINGS

The sample consisted of 28 providers throughout the state, 18 from the substance use system and 10 from the public/ community health system. We identified 7 categories of barriers: environmental constraints, policy constraints, funding constraints, organizational structure, limited inter- and intra-agency communication, burden of responsibility, and client fragility.

CONCLUSIONS

This study presents the practice-based realities of barriers to integrating HIV testing with substance use treatment in a small, largely rural state. Some system and/or organization leaders were either unaware of or not actively pursuing external funds available to them specifically for engaging substance users in HIV testing. However, funding does not address the system-level need for coordination of resources and services at the state level.

Barriers to receiving substance abuse treatment among rural pregnant women in Kentucky

Research presenting outcomes for women who enter substance abuse treatment during pregnancy consistently shows benefits. While treatment has nearly universal benefits, there are many barriers to seeking substance abuse treatment for pregnant women. The purpose of this study is to explore barriers for rural pregnant women seeking substance abuse treatment. There were three eligibility criteria for study participation: (1) aged 18 and older, (2) pregnant, and (3) undergoing short-term inpatient detoxification at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center. Eighty-five rural women (N = 85) were included in the analysis. Substance use history and previous treatment were assessed with measures adapted from the Addiction Severity Index. Treatment barriers were measured with three qualitative questions and were coded into four overarching categories: availability, accessibility, affordability, and acceptability barriers. This sample had an extensive substance use history. Almost all participants had used alcohol (98%), marijuana (98%), illicit opiates (99%), and cigarettes (97%). On average, participants reported about two barriers to receiving treatment (Mean = 1.8; SD = 1.3), with over 80% of the sample reporting having experienced any barrier to treatment. The majority experienced acceptability (51%) and accessibility (49%) barriers. Twenty-six percent (26%) of the sample reported availability barriers. A smaller percentage of participants reported affordability barriers (13%). Rural pregnant women seeking substance abuse treatment face many obstacles to receiving needed treatment. More studies on barriers to substance abuse treatment among rural pregnant women are needed. Identifying these barriers can help in improving treatment access and services.

A Comparison of First Time and Repeat Rural DUI Offenders

The purpose of the current study was to examine whether the differences found between first time and repeat rural DUI offenders were the same as those found previously in urban samples. A total of 118 rural DUI offenders were interviewed, approximately half (51.7%) of which were repeat offenders. Although demographic and mental health characteristics were similar across the two groups, repeat offenders reported more extensive substance use and criminal histories. Results suggest that the pattern of differences between rural first time and repeat DUI offenders may be different from the pattern found in prior urban-based studies. Treatment implications are discussed.

Prevalence and correlates for nonmedical use of prescription opioids among urban and rural residents

BACKGROUND

In the United States, rural areas have reported an increase in overdose deaths secondary to nonmedical use of prescription opioids. Little is known about the differences in nonmedical use of prescription opioids among urban and rural adults.

METHODS

Using the 2008-2009 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, we examined the prevalence of nonmedical use of prescription opioids in urban and rural counties and determined bivariate and multivariate associations, stratified by county. We also compared type of opioids, stratified by county.

RESULTS

Among 75,964 respondents, the prevalence of nonmedical use of prescriptions opioids was similar among residents in urban and rural counties (4.7% vs. 4.3%, p=0.15). Urban and rural residents with severe psychological distress and nonmedical use of other prescription medications were more likely to report nonmedical use of opioids. Urban residents whose first use of illicit drugs was between the age of 18 and 25 and who reported alcohol use were more likely to report nonmedical use. Black and Hispanic urban residents were less likely to use prescription opioids nonmedically compared to white urban residents. Rural residents were more likely than urban residents to use acetaminophen with propoxyphene (61.1% vs. 55.8%, p=0.02), methadone (14.8% vs. 9.1%, p=0.003) and acetaminophen with codeine (3.5% vs. 1.9%, p=0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Prevalence and risk factors related to nonmedical use of opioids are similar between urban and rural residents; however rural residents report propoxyphene, codeine, and methadone use more than their urban counterparts. Prevention and treatment interventions may need to be tailored for specific communities.

Type of health insurance and the substance abuse treatment gap

OBJECTIVE

Most individuals reporting symptoms consistent with substance use disorders do not receive care. This study examines the correlation between type of insurance coverage and receipt of substance abuse treatment, controlling for other observable factors that may influence treatment receipt.

METHOD

Descriptive and multivariate analyses are conducted using pooled observations from the 2002-2007 editions of the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The likelihood of treatment entry is estimated by type of insurance coverage controlling for personal characteristics and characteristics of the individual's substance use disorder.

RESULTS

Multivariate analyses that control for type of substance and severity of disorder (dependence vs. abuse) find that those with Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services/Veterans Affairs, Medicaid only, Medicare only, and Medicare and Medicaid (dual eligibles) have 50% to almost 90% greater odds of receiving treatment relative to those with private insurance.

CONCLUSIONS

The privately insured population has substantially lower treatment entry rates than those with publicly provided insurance. Additional research is warranted to understand the source of the differences across insurance types so that improvements can be achieved.