Research reports from W. Small and co-authors provide new insights into drug abuse
2009 AUG 3 - (NewsRx.com) -- "Injection drug users (IDU) often experience barriers to conventional health-care services, and consequently might rely on acute and emergency services. This study sought to investigate IDU perspectives regarding the impact of supervised injection facility (SIF) use on access to health-care services," investigators in Vancouver, Canada report. "Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 50 Vancouver-based IDU participating in the Scientific Evaluation of Supervised Injecting cohort. Audio-recorded interviews elicited IDU perspectives regarding the impact of SIF use on access to health and social services. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and a thematic analysis was conducted. Fifty IDU, including 21 women, participated in this study. IDU narratives indicate that the SIF serves to facilitate access to health care by providing much-needed care on-site and connects IDU to external services through referrals. Participants' perspectives suggest that the SIF has facilitated increased uptake of health and social services among IDU. Although challenges related to access to care remain in many settings, SIF have potential to promote health by facilitating enhanced access to health-care and social services through a model of care that is accessible to high-risk IDU. [Small W, Van Borek N, Fairbairn N, Wood E, Kerr T. Access to health and social services for IDU: The impact of a medically supervised injection facility," wrote W. Small and colleagues. The researchers concluded: "Drug Alcohol Rev 2009;28:341-346].." Small and colleagues published their study in Drug and Alcohol Review (Access to health and social services for IDU: The impact of a medically supervised injection facility. Drug and Alcohol Review, 2009;28(4):341-346). For additional information, contact T. Kerr, St. Pauls Hospital, BC Center Excellence HIV AIDS, 608-1081 Burrard St., Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada. The publisher of the journal Drug and Alcohol Review can be contacted at: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc., Commerce Place, 350 Main St., Malden 02148, MA, USA. Keywords: Canada, Vancouver, Drug Abuse, Addiction Medicine, Therapy, Treatment. This article was prepared by Mental Health Weekly Digest editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Mental Health Weekly Digest via NewsRx.com.
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