Not ashamed anymore: Longitudinal changes in barriers to treatment entry for online treatment seekers

Abstract

s / Drug and Alcohol Dependence 140 (2014) e86–e168 e95 Medical marijuana cardholders seen in the emergency department Mark A. Ilgen1,2, Amy S. Bohnert1,2, K. Barry1,2, S. Chermack1,2, R.M. Cunningham3, M.A. Walton2, F.C. Blow1,2 1 VA Serious Mental Illness Treatment Research and Evaluation Center, Department of Veterans Affairs Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, United States 2 Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States 3 Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States Aims: Although the number of individuals who participate in statemedical marijuana programs continues to increase, very little is knownabout how these individuals interactwith other aspects of the healthcare system. The present study examines a large sample of Emergency Department (ED) patients to describe the prevalence and characteristics of adults who report participation in statemedical marijuana programs. Methods: Research staff screened a representative sample of 2049 ED patients in Michigan for participation in a larger brief alcohol intervention trial between February and August 2012. The present study focuses on the self-report by participants that they have ever been issued a medical marijuana card. Results: Approximately 4.3% (n=89) of the sample of ED patients reported that theywere participants in statemedical marijuana programs. The vast majority of these patients (77.5%; n=69) reported that their medical marijuana card was obtained for the managementof chronicpain.Onaverage, patientswhoparticipated in state medical marijuana programs reported use of marijuana 12.9 (SD=12.7) days out of the past month. Close to 12% medical marijuanapatients reported that a physicianhad refused toprovide them with an opioid within the past year. Conclusions: Adultswhoparticipate in statemedicalmarijuana programs represent a small but importantminority of patients seen in the ED. It is critical to better characterize the types and quality of care provided to these individual within traditional medical settings. Financial support: This project was supported by NIAAA, R01AA018659. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2014.02.275 Not ashamed anymore: Longitudinal changes in barriers to treatment entry for online treatment seekers Adi Jaffe1,2, D. Murphy1, Tariq Shaheed2, A. Coleman2, Y. Hser1 1 Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, United States 2 California Treatment Services, LLC, Beverly Hills,