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Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy
Published in: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Research

Factors associated with inability to access addiction treatment among people who inject drugs in Vancouver, Canada

Authors: Amy Prangnell, Ben Daly-Grafstein, Huiru Dong, Seonaid Nolan, M-J Milloy, Evan Wood, Thomas Kerr, Kanna Hayashi

Published in: Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Background

Addiction treatment is an effective strategy used to reduce drug-related harm. In the wake of recent developments in novel addiction treatment modalities, we conducted a longitudinal data analysis to examine factors associated with inability to access addiction treatment among a prospective cohort of persons who inject drugs (PWID).

Methods

Data were derived from two prospective cohorts of PWID in Vancouver, Canada, between December 2005 and November 2013. Using multivariate generalized estimating equations, we examined factors associated with reporting an inability to access addiction treatment.

Results

In total, 1142 PWID who had not accessed any addiction treatment during the six months prior to interview were eligible for this study, including 364 women (31.9 %). Overall, 188 (16.5 %) reported having sought but were ultimately unsuccessful in accessing addiction treatment at least once during the study period. In multivariate analysis, factors independently and positively associated with reporting inability to access addiction treatment included: binge drug use (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 1.65), being a victim of violence (AOR = 1.77), homelessness (AOR = 1.99), and having ever accessed addiction treatment (AOR = 2.33); while length of time injecting was negatively and independently associated (AOR = 0.98) (all p < 0.05).

Conclusions

These findings suggest that sub-populations of PWID were more likely to report experiencing difficulty accessing addiction treatment, including those who may be entrenched in severe drug addiction and vulnerable to violence. It is imperative that additional resources go into ensuring treatment options are readily available when requested for these target populations.
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Metadata
Title
Factors associated with inability to access addiction treatment among people who inject drugs in Vancouver, Canada
Authors
Amy Prangnell
Ben Daly-Grafstein
Huiru Dong
Seonaid Nolan
M-J Milloy
Evan Wood
Thomas Kerr
Kanna Hayashi
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1747-597X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-016-0053-6

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