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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Mari P. Millery, PhD and Bhadra P. Kleinman, PhD. Center for Applied Public Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 722 W. 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, 212-305-6821, mm994@columbia.edu
Detoxification often provides a window of opportunity to engage heroin and cocaine addicts in longer-term treatment. This paper is based on data collected from 279 heroin and/or cocaine addicts in the Bronx, NY, who were interviewed at entry to detoxification and again at 30 or more days later. The follow-up interviews asked a series of questions about the addicts’ treatment seeking behaviors following discharge from the detoxification. At baseline, 84% agreed that they intend to go into drug treatment after they leave the detoxification, but only 57% entered a treatment program at least for one day in the first 30 days following discharge from the detoxification, and 34% received treatment for the entire 30 days. Based on the follow-up interview data, analyses will be presented on the reasons why so many addicts did not engage in longer-term treatment despite of their stated intentions. A range of circumstances and behaviors were cited as reasons for not entering treatment programs, including not being admitted to the treatment program, relapse to drug use, family problems, and changing one’s mind about the need for further treatment. Implications of this study on improving the treatment entry process for substance abusers will be discussed.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Substance Abuse Treatment,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.