Category: Studies

Numerous factors, including violence, political turbulence and drug trafficking within Mexico and the United States, have contributed to transnationals’ increased access to drugs and illegal drug activity.

Though outpatient substance abuse treatment (OSAT) has had a significant increase in referrals for racially/ethnically diverse clients, limited studies have delved into whether the racial/ethnic ratio of the OSAT workforce has kept up with the increased representation of clients of color.

Delivery of evidence-based substance abuse treatment practices, such as contingency management treatment (CMT) and medication-assisted treatment (MAT), have been shown to improve treatment adherence and to reduce substance use. Yet, approximately less than 30 percent of addiction treatment programs have implemented MAT and less than half deliver CMT.

Mental health providers operating in a dedicated space within a primary care clinic that is centrally located and offers ease of access to every provider is the gold standard for “service integration.” Colocation of mental health in primary care settings increases access and facilitates coordination, leading to better health outcomes.

Delivery of evidence-based substance abuse treatment practices in racial and ethnic minority communities is essential for reducing health care disparities.

Previous studies have made it clear that there are significant disparities in substance abuse treatment (SAT) outcomes between Whites and African-Americans. Less is known about Latino disparities, the largest group entering SAT.

Coordinating addiction, mental health, and/or medical care is associated with improved health outcomes and reduced healthcare costs, particularly among vulnerable populations. In fact, one of the Affordable Care Act’s main principles is to respond holistically to the healthcare needs of populations facing significant barriers to access this type of integrated care.

Health practitioners have particular cause for alarm concerning the burgeoning number of persons living with HIV in the United States — which is estimated at more than 1.2 million people. One of the greatest areas of concern stems from persons who inject drugs because they report much higher rates of HIV infection.

An important innovation in addiction health programming has been to redesign policies, practices and services to recognize and respond to the service needs of culturally and linguistically diverse populations, termed “culturally competent” practices.

Persons who struggle with addiction often also suffer from other behavioral and mental health problems, hence the need to provide addiction services that simultaneously offer multiple services.