Police interference with methadone treatment in Bangkok, Thailand

Abstract

Background Despite previous qualitative research suggesting that aggressive policing can impede access to healthcare among illicit drug users, few quantitative studies have corroborated these findings. Therefore, we examined factors associated with noticing police presence near methadone clinics among methadone-treated patients who inject drugs in Bangkok, Thailand. METHODS Data were derived from a community-recruited sample of people who inject drugs (IDU) in Bangkok between July and October 2011. We assessed the prevalence and correlates of noticing police presence near methadone clinics using multivariate logistic regression. We also examined the prevalence of methadone discontinuation and the reasons for discontinuation. RESULTS Among 190 methadone-treated IDU, 109 (57.4%) reported having noticed police presence near methadone clinics in the previous six months. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, daily midazolam injection (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]: 2.33) and avoiding healthcare (AOR: 2.20) were positively associated with noticing police presence (all p CONCLUSION These findings raise concern that intensive policing in the vicinity of methadone clinics may be interfering with methadone treatment in this setting. Efforts to align law enforcement and public health activities are needed. Language: en