Gaps in the drug-free and methadone treatment program response to Hepatitis C.
Drug treatment programs are sites of opportunity for the delivery of hepatitis C (HCV) prevention and care services to drug users. Using data collected from a random nationwide sample (N = 595) of drug treatment programs in the United States, this study compares the provision of HCV services by drug-free and methadone maintenance treatment programs (MMTPs). It then examines and compares perceived inadequacies in this service provision from the perspective of the managers in these two types of programs. Findings indicate that MMTPs are providing more HCV services to their patients, and that a greater proportion of MMTPs are dissatisfied with their current level of HCV service provision. Managers of drug-free programs would like to be offering patients more HCV education, while MMTP managers would like to be providing more HCV testing to their patients, and more support and care for patients who are HCV+.
Strauss
Shiela M
SM
National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., 71 West 23 Street, 8th floor, 10010, New York, NY, USA. strauss@ndri.org
Astone
Janetta
J
Vassilev
Zdravko P
ZP
Des Jarlais
Don C
DC
Hagan
Holly
H
D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D014481:United States
D008691:Methadone