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Hall NY, Le L, Abimanyi-Ochom J, Teesson M, Mihalopoulos C. Identifying the most common barriers to opioid agonist treatment in an Australian setting. Aust J Prim Health 2023; 29:445-454. [PMID: 36934460 DOI: 10.1071/py22269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Opioid use disorder is a public health concern in Australia. Opioid agonist treatment (OAT) is effective at treating and minimising harm from opioid use disorder, yet is underused in Australia due to client barriers. Although these barriers have been reported, the barriers that are most important to clients is unclear. The aim of this paper was to determine the most important OAT barriers to Australian clients. METHODS A cross-sectional, self-completed survey was given to 204 opioid-dependent clients who attended needle and syringe sites in Australia. Participants were given 15 OAT barrier statements, which they answered using a 5-point Likert scale (1=strongly disagree, 2=disagree, 3=neutral, 4=agree and 5=strongly agree). The Likert scale data are presented using the count method and the mean Likert scores (for the whole sample and for subgroups). RESULTS The two methods determined that the four most important barriers to OAT were stigma, lack of support services, no flexibility and enjoy using opioids. Furthermore, those who used prescription opioids (compared with heroin) were female or non-binary (compared with male), were not currently using OAT (compared with current OAT), were younger (compared with older) and had high dependence scores (compared with low dependence scores) were impacted more by certain OAT barriers. CONCLUSIONS Policies around improving support services, reducing stigma and increasing flexibility would be beneficial to reduce barriers to OAT in Australia. Second, certain groups were more vulnerable to OAT barriers, emphasising the importance to better tailor opioid treatment programs to these specific populations to increase treatment engagement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Yvonne Hall
- School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Burwood, Vic., Australia
| | - Long Le
- Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
| | - Julie Abimanyi-Ochom
- School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Burwood, Vic., Australia
| | - Maree Teesson
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
| | - Cathy Mihalopoulos
- Public Health and Preventative Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Vic., Australia
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Carlisle VR, Maynard OM, Bagnall D, Hickman M, Shorrock J, Thomas K, Kesten J. Should I Stay or Should I Go? A Qualitative Exploration of Stigma and Other Factors Influencing Opioid Agonist Treatment Journeys. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:1526. [PMID: 36674280 PMCID: PMC9865602 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20021526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
(1) The harm-reduction benefits of opioid agonist treatment (OAT) are well-established; however, the UK government's emphasis on "recovery" may be contributing to a high proportion of people leaving treatment and low retention rates. We wanted to develop a rich and nuanced understanding of the factors that might influence the treatment journeys of people who use OAT. (2) We explored factors at each level of the socioecological system and considered the ways these interact to influence treatment journeys in OAT. We carried out semi-structured interviews with people who use OAT (n = 12) and service providers (n = 13) and analysed data using reflexive thematic analysis. (3) We developed three themes representing participant perceptions of treatment journeys in OAT. These were: (1) The System is Broken; (2) Power Struggles; and (3) Filling the Void. (4) Conclusions: The data suggest that prioritisation of treatment retention is important to preserve the harm-reduction benefits of OAT. Stigma is a systemic issue which presents multiple barriers to people who use OAT living fulfilling lives. There is an urgent need to develop targeted interventions to address stigma towards people who use OAT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Rice Carlisle
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TL, UK
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TU, UK
| | - Olivia M. Maynard
- School of Psychological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TU, UK
| | - Darren Bagnall
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TL, UK
| | - Matthew Hickman
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TL, UK
| | - Jon Shorrock
- Avon & Wiltshire NHS Mental Health Trust, Specialist Drug and Alcohol Services, Colston Fort, Montague Place, Bristol BS6 5UB, UK
| | - Kyla Thomas
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TL, UK
| | - Joanna Kesten
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TL, UK
- The National Institute for Health and Care Applied Research Collaboration West (NIHR ARC West) at University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TL, UK
- The National Institute for Health and Care Health Protection Research Unit (HPRU) in Behavioural Science and Evaluation, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TL, UK
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Healy R, Goodwin J, Kelly P. 'As for dignity and respect…. me bollix': A human rights-based exploration of service user narratives in Irish methadone maintenance treatment. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2022; 110:103901. [PMID: 36351318 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2022.103901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This paper explores the narratives of service users of contemporary methadone maintenance treatment services (MMT) in the Republic of Ireland to obtain their perspectives in the context of them negotiating their right to health METHODS: Participants were recruited and interviewed by a former service user of MMT services. In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 40 current and recent users of MMT services RESULTS: Participants overwhelmingly reported a reduced sense of personal agency because of their experiences in MMT treatment. Participants observed that their perceptions of treatment were forged by a sense of reduced autonomy, coercive and disrespectful approaches from healthcare workers. Within a system which the participants considered to be failing, the services that they accessed were predicated on a process of reward and punishment, where best practice was often ignored by practitioners, all of which resulted in adverse consequences for service users DISCUSSION: The findings indicate that there is a significant 'chasm' between human rights, policy and best practice and how these are operationalised within the structures and practices of Irish MMT services. The treatment of service users, based on human rights principles such as equality, respect, autonomy, empowerment and personal choice remains aspirational and is unlikely to be fulfilled without addressing more systemic challenges such as funding, training of staff, service culture, governance and independent oversight of MMT services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Healy
- Department of Sociology, Maynooth University, Ireland
| | - John Goodwin
- School of Nursing & Midwifery, University College Cork, Ireland
| | - Peter Kelly
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
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4
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Treatments, Perceived Stigma, and Employment Outcomes among Substance Abusers in China. Healthcare (Basel) 2022; 10:healthcare10010130. [PMID: 35052293 PMCID: PMC8776030 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare10010130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Employment is a vital component of a substance abuser's recovery, but little is known about how stigma affects employment for substance abusers receiving treatment. The current study investigates the effects of stigma and treatment on employment in the Chinese context. Using a sample of substance abusers (N = 3.978), multiple logistics regressions with moderation effects were employed. The findings show that treatments positively reduce confirmative experiences of anticipated stigma, and promote employment only when respondents do not perceive stigma. The findings highlight the impact of perceived stigma on limiting substance abusers' chances of being employed, implying that eliminating stigma is the foundation for recovery. Possible strategies that can be explored for reducing stigma are discussed.
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Liberman AR, Bromberg DJ, Azbel L, Rozanova J, Madden L, Meyer JP, Altice FL. Decisional considerations for methadone uptake in Kyrgyz prisons: The importance of understanding context and providing accurate information. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2021; 94:103209. [PMID: 33838398 PMCID: PMC8373625 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Kyrgyz Republic (Kyrgyzstan) is one of few countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia to provide methadone within its prisons, but uptake of this program has been suboptimal, in part because methadone uptake may have personal or social risks and consequences. Decision aids are evidence-based strategies that are designed to inform the patient's choice by objectively providing information that incorporates patient preferences. METHODS We conducted qualitative interviews in Kyrgyz and Russian with currently and formerly incarcerated people (n = 36) in Kyrgyzstan from October 2016 to September 2018. Interviews explored factors influencing methadone utilization in prisons. Transcripts were coded by five researchers using content analysis. A secondary thematic analysis was conducted to determine factors specific to initiation or continuation of methadone treatment in prisons. RESULTS We identified six interrelated themes affecting an individual's decision to initiate or continue methadone treatment: 1) informal prison governance (incarcerated people governing themselves); 2) informal prison economy; 3) perceived and objective benefits of methadone treatment; 4) perceived and objective side effects of methadone treatment; 5) distrust of formal prison administration (medical and correctional staff); and 6) desire for a "cure" from addiction. CONCLUSION Respondents' perceptions about benefits, side effects, and addiction as a curable disease are not consistent with the available evidence. An evidence-based, informed decision-making aid would need to address the six themes identified here, of which several are specific to the Kyrgyz prison context. Unlike decision aids elsewhere, the unique aspects of incarceration itself alongside the informal governance system strongly present within Kyrgyz prisons will need to be incorporated into decisional processes to promote HIV prevention and treatment in a region with high rates of HIV transmission and mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda R Liberman
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, 135 College Street, New Haven, CT, United States, 06510.
| | - Daniel J Bromberg
- Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, 135 College Street, New Haven, Connecticut, United States, 06510; Yale Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, Yale University, 135 College Street, New Haven, Connecticut, United States, 06510
| | - Lyuba Azbel
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, 135 College Street, New Haven, CT, United States, 06510; Yale Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, Yale University, 135 College Street, New Haven, Connecticut, United States, 06510
| | - Julia Rozanova
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, 135 College Street, New Haven, CT, United States, 06510
| | - Lynn Madden
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, 135 College Street, New Haven, CT, United States, 06510; APT Foundation, 495 Congress Ave, New Haven, Connecticut, United States, 06519
| | - Jaimie P Meyer
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, 135 College Street, New Haven, CT, United States, 06510
| | - Frederick L Altice
- Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, 135 College Street, New Haven, CT, United States, 06510; Yale Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, Yale University, 135 College Street, New Haven, Connecticut, United States, 06510
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Sibley AL, Schalkoff CA, Richard EL, Piscalko HM, Brook DL, Lancaster KE, Miller WC, Go VF. "I Was Raised in Addiction": Constructions of the Self and the Other in Discourses of Addiction and Recovery. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2020; 30:2278-2290. [PMID: 33148139 PMCID: PMC7649922 DOI: 10.1177/1049732320948829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this article is to address how conceptualizations of addiction shape the lived experiences of people who use drugs (PWUDs) during the current opioid epidemic. Using a discourse analytic approach, we examine interview transcripts from 27 PWUDs in rural Appalachian Ohio. We investigate the ways in which participants talk about their substance use, what these linguistic choices reveal about their conceptions of self and other PWUDs, and how participants' discursive caches might be constrained by or defined within broader social discourses. We highlight three subject positions enacted by participants during the interviews: addict as victim of circumstance, addict as good Samaritan, and addict as motivated for change. We argue participants leverage these positions to contrast themselves with a reified addict-other whose identity carries socially ascribed characteristics of being blameworthy, immoral, callous, and complicit. We implicate these processes in the perpetuation of intragroup stigma and discuss implications for intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adams L. Sibley
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Adams L. Sibley, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 302 Rosenau Hall, 135 Dauer Drive CB7440, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Vivian F. Go
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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Cioe K, Biondi BE, Easly R, Simard A, Zheng X, Springer SA. A systematic review of patients' and providers' perspectives of medications for treatment of opioid use disorder. J Subst Abuse Treat 2020; 119:108146. [PMID: 33138929 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsat.2020.108146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 07/02/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The opioid epidemic is a public health crisis. Medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) include: 1) buprenorphine, 2) methadone, and 3) extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX). Research should investigate patients' and providers' perspectives of MOUD since they can influence prescription, retention, and recovery. METHODS This systematic review focused on patients' and providers' perceptions of MOUD. The review eligibility criteria included inclusion of the outcome of interest, in English, and involving persons ≥18 years. A PubMed database search yielded 1692 results; we included 152 articles in the final review. RESULTS There were 63 articles about buprenorphine, 115 articles about methadone, and 16 about naltrexone. Misinformation and stigma associated with MOUD were common patient themes. Providers reported lack of training and resources as barriers to MOUD. CONCLUSION This review suggests that patients have significant misinformation regarding MOUD. Due to the severity of the opioid epidemic, research must consider the effects of patients' and providers' perspectives on treatment for OUD, including the effects on the type of MOUD prescribed, patient retention and adherence, and ultimately the number of patients treated for OUD, which will aid in curbing the opioid epidemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharine Cioe
- Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, 370 Bassett Road, North Haven, CT 06473, United States of America
| | - Breanne E Biondi
- Yale School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, AIDS Program, United States of America
| | - Rebecca Easly
- Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, 370 Bassett Road, North Haven, CT 06473, United States of America
| | - Amanda Simard
- Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, 370 Bassett Road, North Haven, CT 06473, United States of America
| | - Xiao Zheng
- Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, United States of America
| | - Sandra A Springer
- Yale School of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, AIDS Program, United States of America; Center for Interdisciplinary Research on AIDS, Yale University School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States of America.
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8
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Andersson L, Johnson B. Patient choice as a means of empowerment in opioid substitution treatment: a case from Sweden. DRUGS: EDUCATION, PREVENTION AND POLICY 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/09687637.2019.1591342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Andersson
- Department of Social Work, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Björn Johnson
- Department of Social Work, Malmö University, Malmö, Sweden
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Scheibe A, Shelly S, Gerardy T, von Homeyer Z, Schneider A, Padayachee K, Naidoo SB, Mtshweni K, Matau A, Hausler H, Marks M. Six-month retention and changes in quality of life and substance use from a low-threshold methadone maintenance therapy programme in Durban, South Africa. Addict Sci Clin Pract 2020; 15:13. [PMID: 32085807 PMCID: PMC7035721 DOI: 10.1186/s13722-020-00186-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging data points to a potential heroin use epidemic in South Africa. Despite this, access to methadone maintenance therapy and other evidence-based treatment options remains negligible. We aimed to assess retention, changes in substance use and quality of life after 6 months on methadone maintenance therapy provided through a low-threshold service in Durban, South Africa. METHODS We enrolled a cohort of 54 people with an opioid use disorder into the study. We reviewed and described baseline socio-demographic characteristics. Baseline and 6-month substance use was assessed using the World Health Organization's Alcohol Smoking and Substance Use Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) and quality of life, using the SF-12. We compared changes at 6 months on methadone to baseline using the Wilcoxon signed rank test and paired-tests for the ASSIST and SF-12 scores, respectively. McNemar's test was used for comparisons between paired results of categorical variables relating to injecting frequency. RESULTS The majority of the participants were young, Black African males, with a history of drug use spanning over 10 years. Retention after 6 months was 81%. After 6 months, the median heroin ASSIST score decreased from 37 to 9 (p < 0.0001) and the cannabis ASSIST score increased from 12.5 to 21 (p = 0.0003). The median mental health composite score of the SF-12 increased from 41.4 to 48.7 (p = 0.0254). CONCLUSIONS Interim findings suggest high retention, significant reductions in heroin use and improvements in mental health among participants retained on methadone maintenance therapy for 6 months. Further research into longer term outcomes and the reasons contributing to these changes would strengthen recommendations for the scale-up of methadone maintenance therapy in South Africa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Scheibe
- TB HIV Care, 7th Floor, 11 Adderley Street, Cape Town, South Africa
- Urban Futures Centre, Steve Biko Campus, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa
| | - Shaun Shelly
- TB HIV Care, 7th Floor, 11 Adderley Street, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Tara Gerardy
- TB HIV Care, 7th Floor, 11 Adderley Street, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Zara von Homeyer
- TB HIV Care, 7th Floor, 11 Adderley Street, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Andrea Schneider
- TB HIV Care, 7th Floor, 11 Adderley Street, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | | | - Klaas Mtshweni
- TB HIV Care, 7th Floor, 11 Adderley Street, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Ayanda Matau
- TB HIV Care, 7th Floor, 11 Adderley Street, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Harry Hausler
- TB HIV Care, 7th Floor, 11 Adderley Street, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Monique Marks
- Urban Futures Centre, Steve Biko Campus, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa
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Smith LR, Mittal ML, Wagner K, Copenhaver MM, Cunningham CO, Earnshaw VA. Factor structure, internal reliability and construct validity of the Methadone Maintenance Treatment Stigma Mechanisms Scale (MMT-SMS). Addiction 2020; 115:354-367. [PMID: 31478272 PMCID: PMC7089617 DOI: 10.1111/add.14799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 08/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Experience of stigma towards methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) may be a barrier to the use of this treatment by people with opioid use disorder. We evaluated the factor structure, internal reliability, construct and criterion validity of a theory-based stigma measure, the Methadone Maintenance Treatment Stigma Mechanisms Scale (MMT-SMS) and compared this with the Substance Use Stigma Mechanism Scale (SU-SMS). DESIGN Surveys at the beginning and end of a prospective study together with records of drug use and treatment attendance during that study. SETTING Community methadone clinic in the Northeastern USA. PARTICIPANTS Ninety-three participants who were receiving MMT; the average daily methadone dose was 84.8 mg/day (standard deviation = 28.39 mg/day). MEASUREMENTS The MMT-SMS uses a self-report questionnaire to assess three dimensions reflecting experiences of anticipated (nine items), enacted (nine items) and internalized stigma (seven items) specifically related to receiving MMT. Anticipated and enacted scales include three stigma source subscales (family, employers, health care workers; three items each). Responses are recorded on a five-point Likert-type scale, then averaged to produce the MMT-SMS scale/subscale scores. The SU-SMS is a self-report questionnaire to assess experiences of anticipated, enacted and internalized stigma regarding substance use history. Both scales were administered at the final parent study visit. Other measures included were assessed in the parent study and used to assess life-time and recent MMT (e.g. current MMT dose) and drug use experiences (e.g. past 30-day heroin injection). FINDINGS The MMT-SMS demonstrated good internal reliability (α = 0.806-0.952 for components). Confirmatory factor analysis supported the seven-factor scale structure, distinguishing between experiences of anticipated, enacted and internalized stigma, and anticipated and enacted stigma source subscales (family, employers, health care workers) [root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.076, 90% confidence interval (CI) = 0.061-0.090, P-close = 0.003; confirmatory fit index (CFI) = 0.974; Tucker-Lewis index (TLI) = 0.971]. Construct validity helped to distinguish the MMT-SMS from established substance use stigma constructs. Criterion validity observed associations with substance use experiences while on MMT, likely to predict future MMT success. Internalized MMT stigma was uniquely associated with daily MMT dose. Regarding criterion validity: anticipated MMT and enacted substance use stigma were associated with past 30-day heroin injection, MMT stigma uniquely associated with opioid use behaviors while receiving MMT, and substance use stigma broadly associated with injection-related behaviors. CONCLUSIONS The Methadone Maintenance Treatment Stigma Mechanisms Scale appears to be a reliable measure of methadone maintenance treatment stigma with robust validity in a sample of people with opioid use disorders receiving methadone maintenance treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laramie R. Smith
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Maria Luisa Mittal
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Karla Wagner
- School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, Reno, NV
| | | | - Chinazo O. Cunningham
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Valerie A. Earnshaw
- Department of Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
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11
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Deng Q, Hu M, Yu F, Liu Q, Hao W, Wu Q, Luo T. A Community-Based Investigation of Stigma Toward Individuals Receiving Methadone Maintenance Treatment in China: A Randomized Case Vignette Study. Front Psychiatry 2020; 11:601266. [PMID: 33324264 PMCID: PMC7723969 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.601266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Even though methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) is effective and widely recommended, it is widely misunderstood and stigmatized. This study aimed to explore people's attitudes and beliefs toward MMT, and stigmatization of MMT patients in China. Methods: This randomized, vignette-based study enrolled 1,066 household respondents (552 males and 514 females, response rate is 88.83%, 86.00% in vignette 1 and 91.66% in vignette 2) from two communities in China. Respondents initially completed questionnaires on sociodemographic characteristics and their knowledge about methadone and MMT. They were then randomly assigned to vignette 1 (described a patient receiving MMT) or vignette 2 (described a patient receiving amlodipine treatment). The labeling, stereotyping, and social distance toward the individual described in the vignettes were evaluated. Results: In these two vignettes, respondents showed a significantly higher level of stigma and discrimination toward the patient receiving MMT than the patient receiving amlodipine treatment. Approximately 60% of respondents believed that methadone is a type of addictive drug and that participating in MMT is a way to get high. Over 60% of respondents labeled the heroin-dependent patient who is receiving MMT as an addict even though the patient has not used heroin for several years; about 80% of them believed that the patient has undesirable characteristics and expressed a strong desire for social distance. Conclusions: People's misunderstanding of MMT, and stigmatization of MMT patients were very common among populations in the communities in China. To maximize MMT patients benefiting from MMT programs, more efforts are needed to minimize the impact of MMT-related stigma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qijian Deng
- Department of Psychiatry, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Maorong Hu
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Fang Yu
- Department of Psychology, Jiangxi Mental Hospital, Nanchang, China
| | - Qiaosheng Liu
- Department of Psychology, Jiangxi Mental Hospital, Nanchang, China
| | - Wei Hao
- Department of Psychiatry, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qiuxia Wu
- Department of Psychiatry, Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Tao Luo
- Department of Psychology, Jiangxi Mental Hospital, Nanchang, China.,Department of Social Medicine and Health Management, Xiangya School of Public Health, Central South University, Changsha, China
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12
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Ambiguous identities of drugs and people: A scoping review of opioid-related stigma. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2019; 74:205-215. [DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 10/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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13
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Polenick CA, Cotton BP, Bryson WC, Birditt KS. Loneliness and Illicit Opioid Use Among Methadone Maintenance Treatment Patients. Subst Use Misuse 2019; 54:2089-2098. [PMID: 31232142 PMCID: PMC6803066 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2019.1628276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Background: Loneliness has been linked to greater substance use, especially among women. Yet little is known about how loneliness is associated with treatment outcomes for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD). Objectives: We evaluated how patient reports of using illicit opioids (i.e. heroin or non-prescription pain medications) are linked to perceptions of loneliness in a sample of adults receiving methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), and whether this link varies by gender. Methods: Participants for this cross-sectional observational study included 371 MMT patients aged 18 and older drawn from four opioid treatment programs in Southern New England and the Pacific Northwest. Patients completed a self-administered survey assessing sociodemographic and health information, loneliness, illicit opioid use, and MMT characteristics. Logistic regressions were estimated to examine the link between patient odds of illicit opioid use in the past month and perceived loneliness. Results: Patient gender moderated the association between illicit opioid use and loneliness such that severe loneliness was associated with higher odds of using illicit opioids among women (OR = 3.00, 95% CI [1.19, 7.57], p=.020) but lower odds of using illicit opioids among men (OR = 0.35, 95% CI [0.14, 0.87], p=.024), accounting for age, marital status, work status, depressive symptoms, and MMT characteristics (treatment episode, treatment duration, and methadone dose). Conclusions/importance: This study underscores the importance of considering loneliness in the management of OUD. Routine clinical care and treatment may benefit from strategies to build and sustain social connections that support long-term recovery among MMT patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney A Polenick
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , Michigan , USA.,Program for Positive Aging, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , Michigan , USA.,Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , Michigan , USA.,Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , Michigan , USA
| | | | - William C Bryson
- Department of Psychiatry, Oregon Health and Sciences University , Portland , Oregon , USA
| | - Kira S Birditt
- Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , Michigan , USA
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Hammarlund R, Crapanzano KA, Luce L, Mulligan L, Ward KM. Review of the effects of self-stigma and perceived social stigma on the treatment-seeking decisions of individuals with drug- and alcohol-use disorders. Subst Abuse Rehabil 2018; 9:115-136. [PMID: 30538599 PMCID: PMC6260179 DOI: 10.2147/sar.s183256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Hammarlund
- Our Lady of the Lake Division of Academic Affairs, Baton Rouge, LA, USA
| | - K A Crapanzano
- Department of Psychiatry, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA,
| | - L Luce
- Department of Psychiatry, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA,
| | - L Mulligan
- Department of Psychiatry, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA,
| | - K M Ward
- Department of Psychiatry, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Baton Rouge, LA, USA,
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Fraser S. Speaking Addictions: Substitution, Metaphor and Authenticity in Newspaper Representations of Methadone Treatment. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2018. [DOI: 10.1177/009145090603300406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Press coverage of addiction tends to be prolific if not always accurate or considered. This article examines the ways in which methadone treatment is reported in three respected daily newspapers, the New York Times, the Times (London) and the Sydney Morning Herald. To conduct this analysis I focus on the role of metaphor, asking what impact the use of metaphor–-both to figure methadone and to mobilize it as a figure for other phenomena–-has in this context. In the process I consider the status of metaphor itself within Western liberal discourse, and trace the ways in which methadone treatment can be seen not only as a resource for, and object of, metaphorical description and production, but itself as a kind of metaphor–-a metaphor for heroin. In concluding, I argue that methadone is aligned in the print media with inauthenticity, disorder and the feminine, and I link this with methadone's implicit ontological status as always already metaphor.
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Exploring the Daily Lives of People on Methadone Maintenance Treatment: An Occupational Perspective. SOCIETIES 2016. [DOI: 10.3390/soc6030027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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17
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Abstract
This study sets out to make a meaningful and useful contribution to the discussion surrounding the treatment of heroin addiction in Ireland. The study took place in nine urban general practices in Dublin city. Twenty five service users were interviewed in-depth. A phenomenological approach drawing on the psychological research methods of Colazzi for data analysis informed this study. Four themes emerged from the data: Service users' the significance of methadone for the service user; service users' understanding of the Methadone Treatment Protocol and the experience of addiction and its effect on families. This paper reports on the experiences of service users receiving methadone treatment in urban general practice in Dublin and in so doing highlights the influence of the GP in supporting recovery. It explores the theme - Service User's Experience of attending general practice for methadone treatment. These accounts provide insight into the harm reduction policy of methadone maintenance and highlight how - from the service users' experience - the implementation is falling short.
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Trujols J, Iraurgi I, Oviedo-Joekes E, Guàrdia-Olmos J. A critical analysis of user satisfaction surveys in addiction services: opioid maintenance treatment as a representative case study. Patient Prefer Adherence 2014; 8:107-17. [PMID: 24482571 PMCID: PMC3905099 DOI: 10.2147/ppa.s52060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Satisfaction with services represents a key component of the user's perspective, and user satisfaction surveys are the most commonly used approach to evaluate the aforementioned perspective. The aim of this discursive paper is to provide a critical overview of user satisfaction surveys in addiction treatment and harm reduction services, with a particular focus on opioid maintenance treatment as a representative case. METHODS We carried out a selective critical review and analysis of the literature on user satisfaction surveys in addiction treatment and harm reduction services. RESULTS Most studies that have reported results of satisfaction surveys have found that the great majority of users (virtually all, in many cases) are highly satisfied with the services received. However, when these results are compared to the findings of studies that use different methodologies to explore the patient's perspective, the results are not as consistent as might be expected. It is not uncommon to find that "highly satisfied" patients report significant problems when mixed-methods studies are conducted. To understand this apparent contradiction, we explored two distinct (though not mutually exclusive) lines of reasoning, one of which concerns conceptual aspects and the other, methodological questions. CONCLUSION User satisfaction surveys, as currently designed and carried out in addiction treatment and harm reduction services, do not significantly help to improve service quality. Therefore, most of the enthusiasm and naiveté with which satisfaction surveys are currently performed and interpreted - and rarely acted on in the case of nonoptimal results - should be avoided. A truly participatory approach to program evaluation is urgently needed to reshape and transform patient satisfaction surveys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan Trujols
- Unitat de Conductes Addictives, Servei de Psiquiatria, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Barcelona, Bilbao, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Madrid, Bilbao, Spain
- Correspondence: Joan Trujols, Unitat de Conductes Addictives, Servei de Psiquiatria, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Sant Antoni Maria Claret 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain, Tel +34 93 553 7665, Fax +34 93 553 7666, Email
| | - Ioseba Iraurgi
- DeustoPsych – Unidad de Investigación, Desarrollo e Innovación en Psicología y Salud, Universidad de Deusto, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Eugenia Oviedo-Joekes
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences, Providence Health Care Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Joan Guàrdia-Olmos
- Departament de Metodologia de les Ciències del Comportament, Facultat de Psicologia, Institut de Recerca en Cervell, Cognició i Conducta (IR3C), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Doukas N. Are methadone counselors properly equipped to meet the palliative care needs of older adults in methadone maintenance treatment? Implications for training. JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK IN END-OF-LIFE & PALLIATIVE CARE 2014; 10:186-204. [PMID: 24835386 DOI: 10.1080/15524256.2014.906370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Today's methadone patients differ greatly from those of the past. Because of the rise of polydrug use and the HIV and hepatitis epidemics, treatment has become much more complex, which multiply the concerns and complexities of treatment. Patients entering methadone programs are also more commonly presenting at ages well into their 50s, 60s, and 70s; and this phenomenon of high rates continues to grow. The majority of these individuals in treatment have presented with a number of significant comorbid medical conditions that will progress and eventually lead to death. This aging cohort must be approached with a modified treatment plan that focuses on management and promoting healthy aging, while attending to their maximum delay of illness, disease, and disability. This article argues that it is necessary for counselors working with this group to adopt a palliative care philosophy. This article also makes recommendations in areas that counselors need to be knowledgeable and skilled in to provide appropriate palliative services specific to this aging population with multiple needs as they near end of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick Doukas
- a Centre for Addiction and Mental Health , Toronto , Canada
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20
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Harris M, Rhodes T. Methadone diversion as a protective strategy: The harm reduction potential of ‘generous constraints’. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2012.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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Malvini Redden S, Tracy SJ, Shafer MS. A metaphor analysis of recovering substance abusers' sensemaking of medication-assisted treatment. QUALITATIVE HEALTH RESEARCH 2013; 23:951-62. [PMID: 23649657 DOI: 10.1177/1049732313487802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we examined metaphors invoked by people recovering from opioid dependence as they described the challenges and successes of using medication-assisted treatment. Metaphors provide linguistic tools for expressing issues that are confusing, complex, hidden, and difficult to state analytically or literally. Using data from eight focus groups with 68 participants representing four ethnic minority groups, we conducted a grounded analysis to show how recovering substance users communicatively constructed addiction and recovery. The primary medication, methadone, was framed as "liquid handcuffs" that allowed those in recovery to quit "hustling," get "straight," and find "money in their pockets." Nonetheless, methadone also served as a "crutch," leaving them still feeling like "users" with "habits" who "came up dirty" to friends and family. In this analysis, we tease out implications of these metaphors, and how they shed light on sensemaking, agency, and related racial- and class-based structural challenges in substance abuse recovery.
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Notley C, Blyth A, Maskrey V, Craig J, Holland R. The experience of long-term opiate maintenance treatment and reported barriers to recovery: a qualitative systematic review. Eur Addict Res 2013; 19:287-98. [PMID: 23652159 DOI: 10.1159/000346674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2012] [Accepted: 12/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM To inform understanding of the experience of long-term opiate maintenance and identify barriers to recovery. METHODS A qualitative systematic review. RESULTS 14 studies in 17 papers, mainly from the USA (65%), met inclusion criteria, involving 1,088 participants. Studies focused on methadone prescribing. Participants reported stability; however, many disliked methadone. Barriers to full recovery were primarily 'inward focused'. CONCLUSION This is the first review of qualitative literature on long-term maintenance, finding that universal service improvements could be made to address reported barriers to recovery, including involving ex-users as positive role models, and increasing access to psychological support. Treatment policies combining harm minimisation and abstinence-orientated approaches may best support individualised recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin Notley
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
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Windsor LC, Dunlap E, Armour M. Surviving oppression under the rock: the intersection of New York's drug, welfare, and educational polices in the lived experiences of low-income African Americans. J Ethn Subst Abuse 2012; 11:339-61. [PMID: 23216440 DOI: 10.1080/15332640.2012.735176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Drawing on standpoint and intersectionality theories, this study explores the degree to which interactions among New York State's Rockefeller Drug Laws and educational and welfare policies have contributed to the maintenance of a culture of surveillance in which the lives of impoverished African Americans are overseen and influenced by oppressive policies and governmental institutions. Qualitative secondary analysis of longitudinal ethnographic data was conducted. Findings demonstrate multiple disadvantages that impoverished African American families struggling with substance use or sale experience. These disadvantages accumulated intergenerationally, in a snowball effect, making it difficult for participants to maintain stable lives. Findings explored the tension between participants' lived experiences and the multiple ways they either assimilated or resisted their oppression. New sensitive policies informed by standpoint, intersectionality, and Afrocentric perspectives must be developed to increase the availability of meaningful employment and strengthening impoverished African American communities.
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Profiles of quality of life in opiate-dependent individuals after starting methadone treatment: a latent class analysis. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2012; 24:342-50. [PMID: 23127664 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2012.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2012] [Revised: 09/04/2012] [Accepted: 09/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to identify classes of quality of life (QoL) among opiate-dependent individuals five to ten years after starting methadone treatment in order to tailor services to the needs of this population. METHODS A cross-sectional study of 159 opiate-dependent individuals who started outpatient methadone treatment in the region of Ghent, Belgium, between 1997 and 2002. A face-to-face structured interview was administered based on the Lancashire Quality of Life Profile, the EuropASI, Brief Symptom Inventory and the Verona Service Satisfaction Scale for Methadone Treatment. Latent class analysis was used to determine patterns of QoL. Analyses of variance and chi-square tests were used to test whether class membership was related to socio-demographic, health- and drug-related variables. RESULTS Based on fit criteria, a three-class model was selected. Class Low (14.5%), 'opiate-dependent individuals living in marginal conditions', is characterised by low QoL scores on all domains. Class Intermediate (25.8%), 'stabilized, but socially excluded opiate-dependent individuals' shows high scores on the domains 'safety' and 'living situation', but low scores on all other QoL domains. Class High (59.7%), 'socially included opiate-dependent individuals', is characterised by high QoL scores on all domains, except 'finances'. CONCLUSION The findings of this study illustrate the existence of different profiles of QoL among opiate-dependent individuals after starting methadone maintenance treatment and demonstrate the need for a continuing care approach. Insight into distinct classes of QoL can be used to design person-centred support, relevant to an individual's personal life.
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Deering D, Horn J, Frampton CMA. Clients' perceptions of opioid substitution treatment: an input to improving the quality of treatment. Int J Ment Health Nurs 2012; 21:330-9. [PMID: 22564199 DOI: 10.1111/j.1447-0349.2011.00795.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Despite the emphasis on providing high quality mental health and addiction treatment, there has been relatively little consideration given to examining clients' perceptions of addiction treatment (consumer satisfaction) as a quality improvement strategy. The present article reports on a survey of a representative sample of 93 clients receiving opioid substitution treatment (OST). Employed participants reported higher treatment satisfaction and a pattern of positive associations was found between satisfaction and general health, mental health, social functioning, lower methadone doses, and participants' ratings of their treatment progress. Lower satisfaction was associated with higher frequency of benzodiazepine use, and, for women, longer treatment duration. Māori participants rated their treatment progress as lower than that of non-Māori. Results strongly endorse recording participants' comments to provide a deeper understanding of survey item ratings. The study findings highlight the need for a research focus on the roles of mental health and other registered nurses who work with people receiving OST in specialist service and primary care settings, and endorse a partnership approach to future research in this area. The pattern of findings arising from this study suggests key strategies for improving the flexibility and client responsiveness of OST.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daryle Deering
- National Addiction Centre (Aotearoa New Zealand), University of Otago, Christchurch, New Zealand.
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Frank D. The trouble with morality: the effects of 12-step discourse on addicts' decision-making. J Psychoactive Drugs 2011; 43:245-56. [PMID: 22111408 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2011.605706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Since its development in the 1960s, researchers have extensively scrutinized methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) as a medical response to heroin addiction. Studies consistently find that MMT is more successful than other treatment models in the reduction of opiate/opioid misuse, the transmission of diseases like HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C, and criminal arrest and conviction rates. Nonetheless, a significant portion of active and former heroin addicts view MMT negatively and-perhaps as a result-MMT is vastly underused. This study examines the effects of 12-Step discourses on the opinions and treatment decisions of active heroin addicts, addicts in MMT, and addicts in 12-Step treatment programs. The study finds the abstinence/morality based discourse of drug addiction and treatment is pervasive among addicts and their non-drug using relations and peers alike; moreover, addicts have internalized this narrative, oftentimes despite their own knowledge of MMT's success and positive personal experiences. The findings suggest that the dominance of abstinence/morality narratives contributes to MMT's poor reputation among, and low use rate by current and former heroin addicts and that the power of the dominant discourse is such that it produces a desire to buy into its values and tenets even when it is against the individual's interests to do so.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Frank
- Social Science Research Center, DePaul University, Chicago, IL, USA.
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Rodger J. The visionary cure of the addiction war? Ibogaine: social context, subcultural identity, and implications for drug policy. DRUGS AND ALCOHOL TODAY 2011. [DOI: 10.1108/17459261111174037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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De Maeyer J, Vanderplasschen W, Camfield L, Vanheule S, Sabbe B, Broekaert E. A good quality of life under the influence of methadone: a qualitative study among opiate-dependent individuals. Int J Nurs Stud 2011; 48:1244-57. [PMID: 21481390 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2011.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2010] [Revised: 03/17/2011] [Accepted: 03/19/2011] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Attention from researchers and health care workers to the quality of life (QoL) of opiate users is growing, but most studies are quantitative, giving limited attention to the consumer's perspective. No information is available on how opiate-dependent individuals themselves perceive QoL and what they see as the important components that contribute to a good QoL. OBJECTIVES This qualitative study aims to expand our knowledge concerning opiate-dependent individuals' perceptions of a good QoL and the impact of methadone on components of a good QoL. METHODS In-depth interviews were conducted with 25 opiate-dependent individuals aged between 26 and 46 years old who started a methadone maintenance treatment at least 5 years ago. Purposive sampling was used to recruit participants with different socio-demographic characteristics and drug use profiles. The interviews were audio-tape recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. RESULTS Thematic analyses revealed five key themes contributing to a good QoL for opiate-dependent individuals: (1) having social relationships, (2) holding an occupation, (3) feeling good about one's self, (4) being independent and (5) having a meaningful life. Opiate-dependent individuals valued methadone's ability to help them function normally, overcome their psychological problems and dependence on illicit opiates, and support them in achieving certain life goals. On the other hand, stigmatisation, discrimination, dependence on methadone and the drug's paralysing effects on their emotions were mentioned as common negative consequences. CONCLUSIONS The findings of this study highlight the importance of supporting opiate-dependent individuals in their daily life by means of practical, social and environmental support (alongside pharmacological treatment) in order to improve their QoL. This study further illustrates the ambivalent influence of methadone on opiate-dependent individuals' QoL, and demonstrates how something commonly perceived as a 'good' can also be a 'bad' for some people. Efforts should be made to limit the negative consequences of methadone on opiate-dependent individuals' QoL, while increasing its potential benefits.
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Braden M, McGowan IW, McLaughlin DF, McKenna HP, Keeney S, Quinn B. Users, carers and professionals experiences of treatment and care for heroin dependency: Implications for practice. A preliminary study. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE 2010. [DOI: 10.3109/14659891.2010.495818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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Abstract
Supervised methadone consumption is an important part of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) but may contribute to stigma for clients. Data from qualitative interviews with MMT clients (n = 64) conducted in 2002-2003 in Canada were analyzed using thematic analytic methods. Three themes dominated clients' accounts of supervised consumption (convenient access to services, relationships with pharmacists and dispensing staff, and attributes of the dispensing space) and were interwoven with experiences of stigmatization. While some dispensing contexts may help clients manage a stigmatized identity, others confer or make visible this identity. Reducing stigmatizing experiences within dispensing environments may improve MMT outcomes and decrease barriers to treatment. The study's limitations are noted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan Anstice
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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