Receiving Treatment For Substance Use Disorders Research Articles

Treatment of substance use disorders in adolescence and early school leaving.

To examine early school leaving in a longitudinal cohort of all high school students treated for substance use disorder (SUD) and their demographic counterparts in Norway. From the National Patient and National Population Registries, we extracted (a) all high school students born in 1991-1992 who received SUD treatment during 2009-2010 (N = 648; nalcohol = 95, ncannabis = 327, and nother drugs = 226) and (b) their age-and-gender matched counterparts (n = 647). From the National Educational Database, we obtained enrollment and graduation status for these two cohorts throughout the designated school period of 5 years. We estimated the hazards of early school leaving as a function of students' treatment for alcohol, cannabis, and other drug use disorders and other known risk factors. Nine out of 10 adolescents receiving SUD treatment left high school early (89%) compared with one in four (27%) from the matched cohort; 422 (73.5%) of these left high school during or after the treatment year. Multivariate discrete-time models revealed significant and ordered associations between receiving SUD treatment and early school leaving, HRalcohol = 3.09 [1.96, 4.89], HRcannabis = 3.83 [2.64, 5.56], HRother drugs = 5.16 [3.32, 8.03], even after accounting for individual-level (sex, immigrant background, criminal charges, and mental health treatment), family-level (family structure, parental education, and family income), and structural risk factors (municipal size, county employment, and dropout rates). Adolescents receiving SUD treatment remain especially vulnerable for early school leaving. These findings underscore the importance of improving and coordinating health and educational services for youth in SUD treatment. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Shared Medical Appointment: A Novel Model for Incorporating Group Visits Into Residency Training for Substance Use Disorders.

Shared medical appointments (SMAs) are a novel modality for treating patients with similar conditions, together, by a team of interdisciplinary providers. SMAs benefit patients with substance use disorder (SUD), but no research has focused on the feasibility of implementation of SMAs in a teaching clinic. Primary care residents rotated in a half-day ambulatory addiction clinic for 4 weeks where a third-year resident co-facilitated 4 SMAs. Confidence, knowledge, and attitudes about SUD care were assessed using web-based surveys at weeks 0, 4, and 8. Pre- and post-intervention scores were compared using a t test for paired samples. Ten residents were included in the analyses. Using a 10-point Likert scale, confidence in SUD knowledge (7.0-8.3, P = .003), confidence in counseling patients with SUD (7.1-8.2, P = .023), and confidence in facilitating an SMA (5.7-8.3, P = .007) showed statistically significant increases from baseline following exposure to the SMAs. Confidence that counseling and other treatments will make a difference for patients with illicit drug use increased (7.1-8.0, P = .142), but did not differ statistically. Furthermore, on a 4-point Likert scale, understanding of behavioral therapies for treating and preventing the relapse of SUD (2.9-3.2, P = .180) showed a similar increase. Attitudes toward patients with SUD (42.4-42.1, P = .303) and physician empathy (119.3-119.2, P = .963) did not change from pre- to post-intervention. SMAs are a feasible training tool in the education of primary care residents on an addiction medicine rotation. Residents develop confidence co-facilitating SMAs after 4 weeks. Overall, exposure to SMAs during residency can provide an opportunity to increase confidence in treating patients with SUD, as well as provide a training modality that may shift the way residents interact with patients receiving SUD treatment.

Barriers to opioid use disorder treatment among people who use drugs in the rural United States: A qualitative, multi-site study

BackgroundIn 2020, 2.8 million people required substance use disorder (SUD) treatment in nonmetropolitan or ‘rural’ areas in the U.S. Among this population, only 10% received SUD treatment from a specialty facility, and 1 in 500 received medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD). We explored the context surrounding barriers to SUD treatment in the rural United States. MethodsWe conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews from 2018 to 2019 to assess barriers to SUD treatment among people who use drugs (PWUD) across seven rural U.S. study sites. Using the social-ecological model (SEM), we examined individual, interpersonal, organizational, community, and policy factors contributing to perceived barriers to SUD treatment. We employed deductive and inductive coding and analytical approaches to identify themes. We also calculated descriptive statistics for participant characteristics and salient themes. ResultsAmong 304 participants (55% male, mean age 36 years), we identified barriers to SUD treatment in rural areas across SEM levels. At the individual/interpersonal level, relevant themes included: fear of withdrawal, the need to “get things in order” before entering treatment, close-knit communities and limited confidentiality, networks and settings that perpetuated drug use, and stigma. Organizational-level barriers included: strict facility rules, treatment programs managed like corrections facilities, lack of gender-specific treatment programs, and concerns about jeopardizing employment. Community-level barriers included: limited availability of treatment in local rural communities, long distances and limited transportation, waitlists, and a lack of information about treatment options. Policy-level themes included insurance challenges and system-imposed barriers such as arrest and incarceration. ConclusionOur findings highlight multi-level barriers to SUD treatment in rural U.S. communities. Salient barriers included the need to travel long distances to treatment, challenges to confidentiality due to small, close-knit communities where people are highly familiar with one another, and high-threshold treatment program practices. Our findings point to the need to facilitate the elimination of treatment barriers at each level of the SEM in rural America.

Nurse-led Tele-Collaborative Pain Care for Rural Patients with Substance Use Disorder

PurposeRates of chronic non-cancer pain in patients with substance use disorders (SUD) are higher than in patients without SUD. Yet access to evidence-based pain treatment for patients with SUD is limited, particularly in rural areas where care access is often poor. The purpose of this study was to examine feasibility and preliminary efficacy of a nurse-led collaborative pain intervention for patients with comorbid chronic pain and SUD, delivered exclusively via telehealth. MethodsSubjects were 62 patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain enrolled in specialty SUD treatment at a single VA medical center and residing in rural geographic regions. Subjects received an initial pain assessment and treatment recommendations, 6 follow-up appointments over four months, and a 10-session weekly pain education class. All clinical encounters were delivered via video conference or telephone, based on patient preference and internet availability. Subjects completed an interviewer administered survey at baseline, 1- and 4-month follow-up that assessed pain severity and interference as measured by the Brief Pain Inventory, depression symptoms as measured by the Beck Depression Inventory-II, and daily substance use outcomes as measured by the Timeline Followback. ResultsPatients on average were 48 years old, and the majority were male (86%) and White Non-Hispanic (91%). By 4-month follow-up, pain severity (B = -0.67 [-1.05, -0.29]), pain interference (B = -0.94 [-1.50, -0.39]), and depression symptoms (B = -4.30 [-7.96, -0.63]) had significantly declined from baseline. A significant reduction in days of alcohol (OR = 0.64 [0.46, 0.90]) and cannabis use (OR = 0.47 [0.34, 0.66]) was also observed at 4-month follow-up. ConclusionPreliminary analyses show promise for synchronous telehealth collaborative pain interventions delivered to rural patients receiving SUD treatment, with particular benefit in reducing pain, depression symptoms, and alcohol and cannabis use.

Shifts in motivation to seek substance use disorder treatment in adolescents, emerging adults, and older adults

ABSTRACT Objective We sought to understand age related differences in motivation for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment entry. It was hypothesized that the relative effect of physical health, social relationships and criminal justice involvement would be different when comparing emerging adults to other age groups. Methods Using the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, we conducted a multivariate logistic regression on individuals that met criteria for needing SUD treatment with the dependent variable of receiving SUD treatment, and the independent variables of interest being an interaction between three age categories and three motivator categories. Results Emerging adults were least likely to receive needed treatment (over age 25 (OR 3.791, CI 2.498-5.755), adolescents (OR 2.840, CI 1.362-5.920)). Being arrested was the primary motivator for all age groups (OR 14.011, CI 7.780-25.232). Emerging adults resembled adolescents more than adults over age 25 on the effect of health and family as motivators for treatment. Conclusion Arrest had a greater effect on treatment initiation for emerging adults than other age groups. Although older adults are more likely to have physical health complications due to a SUD, they are least likely to seek SUD treatment after experiencing physical health complications.

Impulsivity and Reflective Thinking in Veterans Seeking Care for Substance Use Disorder

Objective: Substance use disorder (SUD) is a major public health crisis, with increased overdose deaths in the past decade. This has coincided with a tremendous amount of research on those who misuse substances. However, extensive research on SUD vulnerability characteristics such as impulsivity may be complemented by research on theoretically relevant aspects of cognition. The Cognitive Reflection Test (CRT) was designed to measure a person’s ability to subdue quick, intuitive decisions to reflect or deliberate. To some decision making theorists, this measure may help explain why some people are better able to inhibit “gut reactions” than others. Methods: We recruited 140 veterans from a Veterans Affairs medical center; 91 of whom were receiving SUD treatment. Participants completed the CRT and a measure of trait impulsivity (the UPPS-P). We ran planned ANCOVAs assessing differences in the number of correct answers on the CRT and the proportion of errors that were intuitive. Results: Participants who were receiving treatment gave significantly fewer correct, reflective answers on the CRT compared to controls. However, there were no significant differences in the proportion of errors that were due to intuitive responses. These findings did not change when controlling for age and/or trait impulsivity. Conclusion: Those suffering from SUD may exhibit cognitive deficits that do not stem from intuitive thinking. These deficits may, in turn, exacerbate issues arising from elevated impulsivity. Additional research which better incorporates decision making theory may be invaluable in providing clinically-relevant results and positive public health outcomes.

Contraception and Healthcare Utilization by Reproductive-Age Women Who Use Drugs in Rural Communities: a Cross-Sectional Survey

BackgroundWomen who use drugs (WWUD) have low rates of contraceptive use and high rates of unintended pregnancy. Drug use is common among women in rural U.S. communities, with limited data on how they utilize reproductive, substance use disorder (SUD), and healthcare services.ObjectiveWe determined contraceptive use prevalence among WWUD in rural communities then compared estimates to women from similar rural areas. We investigated characteristics of those using contraceptives, and associations between contraceptive use and SUD treatment, healthcare utilization, and substance use.DesignRural Opioids Initiative (ROI) — cross-sectional survey using respondent-driven sampling (RDS) involving eight rural U.S. regions (January 2018–March 2020); National Survey on Family Growth (NSFG) — nationally-representative U.S. household reproductive health survey (2017–2019).ParticipantsWomen aged 18–49 with prior 30-day non-prescribed opioid and/or non-opioid injection drug use; fecundity determined by self-reported survey responses.Main MeasuresUnweighted and RDS-weighted prevalence estimates of medical/procedural contraceptive use; chi-squared tests and multi-level linear regressions to test associations.Key ResultsOf 855 women in the ROI, 36.8% (95% CI 33.7–40.1, unweighted) and 38.6% (95% CI 30.7–47.2, weighted) reported contraceptive use, compared to 66% of rural women in the NSFG sample. Among the ROI women, 27% had received prior 30-day SUD treatment via outpatient counseling or inpatient program and these women had increased odds of contraceptive use (aOR 1.50 [95% CI 1.08–2.06]). There was a positive association between contraception use and recent medications for opioid use disorder (aOR 1.34 [95% CI 0.95–1.88]) and prior 6-month primary care utilization (aOR 1.32 [95% CI 0.96–1.82]) that did not meet the threshold for statistical significance.ConclusionWWUD in rural areas reported low contraceptive use; those who recently received SUD treatment had greater odds of contraceptive use. Improvements are needed in expanding reproductive and preventive health within SUD treatment and primary care services in rural communities.

630-P: Diabetes Management for People with Comorbid Substance Use Disorder

Importance: Comorbid substance use disorder (SUD) is associated with poor clinical outcomes among people with diabetes, but limited research has examined targeted intervention strategies for patients with both conditions. Methods: We conducted a rapid literature review using PubMed to examine past diabetes screening and intervention studies for patients with SUD (study 1) . To investigate potential intervention targets, we compared clinical factors and health care utilization among patients with SUD and diabetes comorbidity (comorbid group) to patients with one but not both of these conditions (SUD-only or diabetes-only groups; study 2) . Study 2 included electronic health record (EHR) data from 2,734 adults with SUD (of whom 8% had comorbid diabetes) who were treated for SUD in an integrated health care system in 20 (comorbid group N = 217; SUD-only group N = 2,517) . We also evaluated previously published data from the same health system for patients with diabetes and low rates of SUD (diabetes-only group, N = 264,844) . Results: In study 1, there was limited literature found on comorbid SUD and diabetes. No studies were found on interventions in the behavioral health or SUD treatment setting. In study 2, comorbid diabetes relative to SUD-only was associated with higher rates of emergency department (ED) and hospital use (aOR = 1.85, 1.56; p values < 0.05) , after adjusting for demographic and SUD factors. The comorbid group had higher rates of diagnosed cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and dyslipidemia (29%, 69.6%, 56.7%, versus 6.6%, 22.6%, 17% in SUD-only) . Relative to the diabetes-only group, the comorbid group had similar rates of HbA1c > 9.0. Conclusions and Relevance: Patients with diabetes who are receiving SUD treatment are vulnerable to poor cardiovascular health and frequent visits to the ED and hospital. Though understudied, models that integrate diabetes care into SUD treatment could be helpful. Disclosure E. Iturralde: None.

Opioid Use Disorder and COVID-19: Treatment and Recovery Factors among Vulnerable Populations at the Intersection of Two U.S. Epidemics

ABSTRACT Social inequities made some sociodemographic groups – including those of older age, minoritized race/ethnicity, and low socioeconomic status – disproportionately vulnerable to morbidity and mortality associated with the opioid epidemic and COVID-19 pandemic. Given shared vulnerability to these public health crises, it is critical to understand how COVID-19 impacts substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery among people with these characteristics. The current study examined COVID-19ʹs perceived impact on treatment factors and psychosocial outcomes by sociodemographic vulnerability. Patients receiving SUD treatment with a history of opioid misuse were recruited. Participants completed self-report questionnaires regarding the impact of COVID-19 on treatment indicators and mood and substance use symptoms. Most participants reported that COVID-19 decreased their treatment access and quality. There were no sociodemographic differences in treatment factors. Those with high sociodemographic vulnerability reported greater pandemic-related increases in depression and demonstrated greater mood symptoms. Post-hoc analyses demonstrated that unmet basic needs were significantly associated with lower treatment access and quality, greater mood symptoms, and higher substance use. Findings suggest pandemic-related stressors and barriers affected those across the sociodemographic spectrum. Treatment systems must address socioeconomic barriers to care exacerbated by the pandemic and bolster integrated treatment options for opioid use and mood disorders.

Trends In The Use Of Treatment For Substance Use Disorders, 2010-19.

Rapidly rising drug overdose rates in the United States during the past decade underscore the need to increase access to treatment among people with substance use disorders (SUDs). We analyzed trends in the use of treatment services among people with SUDs during the period 2010-19, using data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Compared with 2013, outpatient visits for general health in the prior year increased 3.6percentage points by the 2017-19 period. Use of any SUD treatment in the prior year remained unchanged, but treatment use among people involved in the criminal legal system increased by about 6.2percentage points by the end of the study period. Among those receiving SUD treatment, there was a 14.9-percentage-point increase in having treatment paid for by Medicaid between 2010-13 and 2017-19. Although access to general medical care and insurance coverage have improved for people with SUD, our study findings underscore the importance of renewed efforts to increase the use of SUD treatment.

Delivering Remote Measurement-Based Care in Community Addiction Treatment: Engagement and Usability Over a 6-Month Clinical Pilot.

ObjectiveMeasurement-based care (MBC) is an evidence-based practice in which patients routinely complete standardized measures throughout treatment to help monitor clinical progress and inform clinical decision-making. Despite its potential benefits, MBC is rarely used in community-based substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. In this pilot study, we evaluated the feasibility of incorporating a digital and remotely delivered MBC system into SUD treatment within a community setting by characterizing patients’ and clinicians’ engagement with and usability ratings toward the MBC system that was piloted.MethodsA pilot study was conducted with 30 patients receiving SUD treatment and eight clinicians providing SUD treatment in a large, publicly funded addiction and mental health treatment clinic. Services as usual within the clinic included individual psychotherapy, case management, group therapy, peer support, and medication management for mental health and SUD, including buprenorphine. Patients who enrolled in the pilot continued to receive services as usual and were automatically sent links to complete a 22-item questionnaire, called the weekly check-in, via text message or email weekly for 24 weeks. Results of the weekly check-in were summarized on a clinician-facing web-based dashboard. Engagement was characterized by calculating the mean number of weekly check-ins completed by patients and the mean number times clinicians logged into the MBC system. Ratings of the MBC system’s usability and clinical utility were provided by patients and clinicians.ResultsPatient participants (53.3% male, 56.7% white, 90% Medicaid enrolled) completed a mean of 20.60 weekly check-ins (i.e., 85.8% of the 24 expected per patient). All but one participating clinician with a patient enrolled in the study logged into the clinician-facing dashboard at least once, with an average of 12.20 logins per clinician. Patient and clinician ratings of usability and clinical utility were favorable: most patients agreed with statements that the weekly check-in was easy to navigate and aided self-reflection. All clinicians who completed usability questionnaires agreed with statements indicating that the dashboard was easy to navigate and that it provided meaningful information for SUD treatment.ConclusionsA digital and remotely delivered MBC system can yield high rates of patient and clinician engagement and high ratings of usability and clinical utility when added into SUD treatment as usual. The success of this clinical pilot may be attributable, in part, to the user-centered design processes that were used to develop and refine the MBC system that was piloted. Future efforts may focus on strategies to test whether MBC can be sustainably implemented and offers clinical benefits to patients in community SUD treatment settings.

Perspectives of adults with disabilities and opioid misuse: Qualitative findings illuminating experiences with stigma and substance use treatment

BackgroundOpioid misuse is a significant public health problem in the United States; however, there is a gap in knowledge regarding the experiences of individuals who have experienced both opioid misuse/opioid use disorder (OUD) and another disability. This gap in knowledge is particularly problematic because people with disabilities are more likely to have co-occurring serious mental illness, experience chronic pain, and be socially isolated, which are all independent risk factors for any substance use disorder (SUD). ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to illuminate the perspectives of individuals who have both opioid misuse/OUD and another disability, focusing on their experiences accessing and engaging in SUD treatment. MethodsWe recruited adults who had lived experience with both disability and an “opioid use problem.” We conducted 17 individual interviews and facilitated two focus groups with 11 participants. The interview protocol included items related to individuals’ experiences with OUD/SUD treatment as well as stigma. ResultsRespondents encountered many barriers to receiving SUD treatment related to their disability. People with disabilities experienced added layers of stigma and other systemic barriers (e.g., lack of accommodations) that complicated treatment quality and access. This was further compounded by intersecting identities (e.g., female gender, race, homelessness). ConclusionSUD treatment providers should be trained to understand and adopt accommodations critical to the unique needs of individuals with disabilities, with cultural responsiveness, to encourage successful SUD treatment and recovery.

Homelessness and publicly funded substance use disorder treatment in California, 2016–2019: Analysis of treatment needs, level of care placement, and outcomes

IntroductionBoth homelessness and substance use have increased in recent years. People experiencing homelessness (PEH) are at increased risk for health problems and early mortality, both of which can be exacerbated by substance use disorders (SUD). Specialty SUD treatment is likely needed to address substance use among PEH, and more than 232,000 PEH received treatment from U.S. publicly funded SUD programs in 2015. The objective of this paper is to develop a better understanding of the SUD services that PEH receive in publicly funded treatment programs by (1) describing the characteristics and needs of the PEH population served in publicly funded SUD treatment programs, compared to non-PEH populations; (2) determining if differences exist in treatment placement (level of care) for PEH and non-PEH; and (3) gauging how successful programs are in treating PEH compared to non-PEH. MethodsObservational study using a two-way fixed effect model to determine associations among homelessness, retention, and outcomes among Medicaid beneficiaries receiving SUD treatment in California from 2016 to 2019 (n = 638,953). The study team used ordinary least squares (OLS) regression to measure the degree to which homelessness was associated with baseline characteristics, SUD services received, and treatment outcomes. ResultsPEH were significantly more likely than non-PEH to be having methamphetamine or heroin as their primary substance. PEH had greater frequency of primary substance use prior to entering treatment, greater ER and hospital utilization, more criminal justice involvement, and greater prevalence of mental health diagnoses and unemployment. PEH were 9.82% more likely than non-PEH to receive residential treatment and 7.11% less likely than non-PEH to receive treatment intensive outpatient modalities. Homelessness was associated with an 11.90% decrease in retention, and a 19.40% decrease in successful discharge status. These trends were consistent across outpatient, intensive outpatient, and residential modalities. ConclusionsDeveloping SUD treatment capacity and housing supports can improve treatment outcomes for PEH. Potential strategies to improve SUD services for PEH include providing more contingency management, opioid pharmacotherapies, programming designed to treat individuals with co-occurring mental health disorders, and resources for housing options that can support PEH in their recovery.

Treatment of substance use disorders among black and white adults: rates, correlates, and racial discrimination

Background Racial disparities in access to psychiatric treatment are well documented, but less is known about disparities in use of substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. Objectives To compare Black and White individuals with SUDs on overall differences and correlates of SUD treatment receipt. Methods Using nationally representative survey data from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions-III (NESARC-III), we compared Black (n = 1,312 unweighted) and White (n = 3,076 unweighted) adults with past-year SUDs on proportions who received SUD treatment and on sociodemographic and clinical correlates of receiving treatment. Due to large samples, effect sizes, rather than p-values, were used to identify substantial differences between racial groups. Multivariate analyses were used to identify independent differentiating factors. Results Black individuals with past-year SUDs were no less likely to receive treatment than White individuals (10.1% versus 11.3%; p = 0.24). Bivariate analyses demonstrated similar correlates of treatment receipt between racial groups, including sociodemographic disadvantage, racial discrimination, criminal justice involvement, low social support, multimorbidity of SUDs and psychiatric disorders, and prior SUD treatment. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that low income, unemployment, and criminal justice involvement had a significantly stronger association with receiving treatment for Whites, while parental problems with alcohol was more strongly associated with treatment among Black individuals (p < 0.05). Conclusion Recognizing methodological limitations, our findings are encouraging suggesting that Black individuals with SUDs are not less likely than White individuals to receive treatment and have few differences in correlates of receiving treatment. However, treatment receipt was low for both groups and remains a major unmet challenge.

Need for and Receipt of Substance Use Disorder Treatment Among Adults, by Gender, in the United States.

Disparities in substance use disorder (SUD) treatment use persist across groups, including gender. Using a gender-informed approach to expand treatment capacity and reduce barriers to treatment engagement is vital. We examined SUD treatment need and receipt among people with SUD in the United States, by gender, and assessed gender-specific sociodemographic factors associated with unmet need for SUD treatment and reported treatment barriers. We conducted an analysis of data among adults aged ≥18 with a past-year SUD from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (2015-2018). We computed population-adjusted frequencies and proportions for SUD treatment need and receipt and assessed gender differences. Multivariate logistic regression assessed gender-specific sociodemographic variables associated with SUD treatment receipt. Among adults with a past-year SUD, 63.4% were men and 36.6% were women (P < .001), only 10.6% received SUD treatment, and a greater percentage of women than men needed treatment for opioid use disorder (11.9% vs 9.9%; P = .002). Receipt of SUD treatment was lowest among women with alcohol use disorder followed by men with alcohol use disorder (7.5% vs 8.9%; P = .052). Non-Latinx Black men had fewer than half the adjusted odds of receiving SUD treatment than non-Latinx White men (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.44; 95% CI, 0.27-0.71). Latinx women (aOR = 0.37; 95% CI, 0.18-0.73) and non-Latinx Black women (aOR = 0.51; 95% CI, 0.27-0.94) had significantly lower odds of receiving SUD treatment than non-Latinx White women. As public health efforts target expanding SUD treatment capacity and addressing disparities in use of SUD treatment, interventions informed by gender and culture should be prioritized.

Motherhood, pregnancy and gateways to intervene in substance use disorder.

Motherhood increases women's use of health and social services, presenting opportunities to identify and refer women with substance use disorder (SUD) to treatment. We pooled 4years (2015-2018) of cross-sectional data from National Survey on Drug Use and Health on women of child-bearing age (18-44) in the United States (n=64,346). (1) We compared the use of services (health, social and criminal justice involvement) by SUD and 'motherhood' (pregnant or has one or more children under 18). We used multivariable logistic regression models to estimate the association between motherhood, SUD and their interaction with the use of services. (2) We estimated the association between the use of different services and SUD treatment use among women with SUD. Among women of child-bearing age, 9.7% had SUD. Mothers who had SUD were more likely to use social services (AOR=1.48 [95% CI: 1.22, 1.79]) and mental health services compared with non-mothers who did not have SUD (AOR=1.40 [95% CI: 1.19, 1.65]). The following factors were associated with increased odds of receiving SUD treatment among mothers: mental health treatment utilisation (AOR=1.94 [95% CI: 1.29, 2.93]); Medicaid coverage (AOR=2.48 [95% CI: 1.64, 3.76]); and criminal justice involvement (AOR=3.38 [95% CI: 1.97, 5.80]). To increase treatment access, it is important to address women's different stages in life, including how to best engage women in SUD care across different settings.

Contextual Factors’ Impact on the Reception of Substance Use Disorder Treatment Language: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

ABSTRACT Social stigma related to substance use can be a significant barrier to accessing treatment. Despite government institutions, psychological associations, and public advocacy groups promoting person-first language to decrease stigmatization, no prior study has investigated how those with a substance use disorder (SUD) respond to language used by mental health clinicians. The purpose of this study was to examine the experience of treatment language for persons seeking recovery from an SUD. An interpretative phenomenological analysis was used to analyze semi-structured interviews conducted with individuals who had recently received SUD treatment. The results indicated that language reception was highly dependent on five contextual factors: expertise of treatment professionals, relatability, readiness to change, awareness of the problem, and body language. Findings suggested that as participants identified peers or clinicians they could trust, language that had previously felt stigmatizing became informed with new and supportive meaning. In addition, the results indicated that participants responded to dichotomous language differently at various stages of recovery. The authors recommend that treatment professionals not only reflect on word choice to eliminate stigma and shame in treatment settings but also examine the contextual factors that may impact language reception.

Menthol cigarette use in substance use disorder treatment before and after implementation of a county-wide flavoured tobacco ban

IntroductionThis study examined the impact of a San Francisco City and County ban on all flavoured tobacco products, including menthol cigarettes, among clients in residential substance use disorder (SUD) treatment.MethodsWe...

Access to substance use disorder treatment during COVID-19: Implications from reduced local jail populations

Many states have responded to the spread of COVID-19 by implementing policies which have led to a dramatic reduction in jail populations. We consider the benefits associated with providing the population of individuals who would, but for these policies, be incarcerated with substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. We discuss problems that may prevent this population from receiving SUD treatment as well as policies which may mitigate these problems.

Access to Substance Use Disorder Treatment During COVID-19: Implications from Reduced Local Jail Populations

Many states have responded to the spread of COVID-19 by implementing policies which have led to a dramatic reduction in jail populations. We consider benefits associated with providing the population of individuals who would, but for these policies, be incarcerated with substance use disorder (SUD) treatment. We discuss problems that may prevent this population from receiving SUD treatment as well as policies which may mitigate these problems.