Factors Associated with Drug Treatment Entry Patterns Among Hispanic Women Injection Drug Users Seeking Treatment (From Substance Abusing Latinos: Current Research on Epidemiology, Prevention, and Treatment, P 157-174, 2005, Mario R. De La Rosa, Lori K. Holleran, et al., eds. -- See NCJ-211703)

• NCJ Number: 211710
• Author(s): Lena M. Lundgren; Hortensia Amaro; Linsey Ben-Ami
• Date Published: 2005
• Length: 18 pages
• Grant Number(s): H-79TI12241-01
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Health and Human Services
• Sale Source: Haworth Social Work Practice Press
• Publication Format: Book Chapter
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study investigated patterns of drug treatment entry for Hispanic women injection drug users (IDUs) residing in Massachusetts.

Abstract

Heroin use, particularly among young Hispanic adults, has increased dramatically in Massachusetts, as well as the rest of the Nation. The increase in heroin use is closely associated with an increase in drug treatment admissions for opiate abuse among Hispanic women in Massachusetts. The current study explored factors likely to influence the treatment admission for Hispanic women along three treatment modalities: (1) detoxification only treatment; (2) residential treatment; and (3) methadone treatment. Participants were 1,849 Hispanic women who entered drug treatment in Massachusetts between 1996 and 2002 and who reported IDU during the year prior to treatment entry. Data examined were collected as part of the Massachusetts Bureau of Substance Abuse Services (BSAS) Management Information System (MIS), which collected information at all admissions to substance abuse treatment programs. Variables under examination included severity of drug abuse, health insurance status, mental health treatment, and criminal justice involvement. Results of logistic regression analyses indicated differences in patterns of drug treatment entry in terms of ethnicity, mental health service utilization, involvement with the criminal justice system, and health insurance status. The findings have several implications for social work practitioners, including the need to promote residential treatment services among Hispanic populations and the need for training in the treatment of co-occurring mental health disorders. Tables, references