1. Substance use, need, and demand for substance user treatment services in patients treated for sexually transmitted diseases in michigan.
- Author
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Aktan GB, Calkins RF, and Johnson DR
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Female, Health Services Accessibility, Humans, Illicit Drugs, Male, Michigan epidemiology, Middle Aged, Needs Assessment, Population Surveillance, Sexually Transmitted Diseases psychology, Substance Abuse Treatment Centers, Substance-Related Disorders psychology, Sexually Transmitted Diseases epidemiology, Substance-Related Disorders epidemiology
- Abstract
The association between substance use and communicable diseases, and the need for substance user treatment services for patients treated for communicable diseases, is well documented. This study builds upon this knowledge in that it quantifies the need and demand for substance user treatment services in a large population of patients treated for communicable diseases, specifically, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), an area in which there is insufficient research published in the literature, but which is essential for policy development. More than 1700 patients treated for STDs in publicly funded clinics in Michigan between 1994-1995 were interviewed about their substance use, consequences of use and demand for substance user treatment services. Results indicated that the rates of substance use and demand for substance user treatment services were significantly higher among persons encountered in the STD clinics compared to the Michigan general adult population; however, a large proportion of STD patients determined to need substance user treatment services according to DSM-III-R criteria for "substance dependence" and "abuse" did not report ever receiving it. These results are followed by a discussion of possible policy implications for planning for substance user treatment services for patients treated for STDs in publicly funded clinics and suggestions for further research.
- Published
- 2001
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