News (Media Awareness Project) - US: Wire: Most Drug Users Lack Access To Treatment |
| Title: | US: Wire: Most Drug Users Lack Access To Treatment |
| Published On: | 1999-12-21 |
| Source: | Reuters |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-05 08:15:27 |
MOST DRUG USERS LACK ACCESS TO TREATMENT
NEW YORK, Dec 21 (Reuters Health) -- Drug-abuse treatment programs can
result in major reductions in drug use and related crime, but despite
these positive effects, most drug users do not receive treatment,
researchers report. In fact, the number of treatment programs is declining.
According to Dr. Marjorie Gutman, of the University of Pennsylvania in
Philadelphia, and Dr. Richard Clayton, of the University of Kentucky
in Lexington, less than a quarter of drug users in the United States
receives treatment for addiction.
During the last decade, not only has the number of drug-treatment
programs declined, but also the quality of the treatment has worsened,
the researchers report in the November/December issue of the American
Journal of Health Prevention. Part of the problem is that managed care
health plans often offer coverage for mental health through a separate
organization than for physical health, they note.
Despite the declining availability of drug treatment, from 30% to 50%
of drug users who undergo treatment are able to stay off drugs,
according to the report.
While this number may seem low, Gutman and Clayton point out that this
rate is similar to the percentage of people with diabetes or asthma
who keep their condition under control.
However, for two groups of people, those who abuse more than one drug
and those who are mentally ill, there are few drug treatment programs
designed to meet their needs, according to the authors.
The researchers also report that two drug-related programs,
needle-exchanges for injection drug users and treatment for drug
addicted pregnant women, are the source of significant
controversy.
On the prevention front, while some studies have shown that
schoolchildren enrolled in drug-education programs are about half as
likely to use drugs as other kids, another study has found that DARE,
a drug education program used by more than half of all US schools, has
little effect on drug use.
SOURCE - American Journal of Health Promotion 1999;14:92-97.
NEW YORK, Dec 21 (Reuters Health) -- Drug-abuse treatment programs can
result in major reductions in drug use and related crime, but despite
these positive effects, most drug users do not receive treatment,
researchers report. In fact, the number of treatment programs is declining.
According to Dr. Marjorie Gutman, of the University of Pennsylvania in
Philadelphia, and Dr. Richard Clayton, of the University of Kentucky
in Lexington, less than a quarter of drug users in the United States
receives treatment for addiction.
During the last decade, not only has the number of drug-treatment
programs declined, but also the quality of the treatment has worsened,
the researchers report in the November/December issue of the American
Journal of Health Prevention. Part of the problem is that managed care
health plans often offer coverage for mental health through a separate
organization than for physical health, they note.
Despite the declining availability of drug treatment, from 30% to 50%
of drug users who undergo treatment are able to stay off drugs,
according to the report.
While this number may seem low, Gutman and Clayton point out that this
rate is similar to the percentage of people with diabetes or asthma
who keep their condition under control.
However, for two groups of people, those who abuse more than one drug
and those who are mentally ill, there are few drug treatment programs
designed to meet their needs, according to the authors.
The researchers also report that two drug-related programs,
needle-exchanges for injection drug users and treatment for drug
addicted pregnant women, are the source of significant
controversy.
On the prevention front, while some studies have shown that
schoolchildren enrolled in drug-education programs are about half as
likely to use drugs as other kids, another study has found that DARE,
a drug education program used by more than half of all US schools, has
little effect on drug use.
SOURCE - American Journal of Health Promotion 1999;14:92-97.
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