While drug use increases health service need, utilization, and cost, religiosity is associated with better health status and lower health service utilization. This analysis combines these variables and examines the relationship between religiosity, injection and chronic drug use, and access to health services in a community population in Miami, Florida. The data analysis supports other research showing that religiosity is associated with non-drug use. In examining religiosity and health care access, researchers found that religion is significantly associated with improved access to health care among drug users, but not among non-drug users. The data suggest that key aspects of religious belief and participation may ameliorate some of the consequences of drug use. The implications for these findings extend to both health service providers and faith communities. Drug users may benefit from health service providers and faith communities forming alliances to provide out-reach services to such high risk populations as injection drug users and chronic cocaine users.
Learning objectives: Participants will increase their understanding of the relationship between religiosity, drug use and health service access and know the policy implications for establishing partnerships between health service providers and faith communities.
Learning Objectives: N/A
Keywords: Religion, Injecting Drug Use
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.