title: Racial and ethnic diversity among a heroin and cocaine using population: treatment system utilization.
abstract: Knowledge about the meanings and consequences of behaviors associated with drug use among diverse populations is essential for developing effective public health and clinical strategies. In this study we identify racial/ethnic variations in patterns of drug use, Addiction Severity Index (ASI) scores, response to intervention, concordance between self-report of drug use and biochemical confirmation, and treatment system contacts in a sample of 1175 out-of-treatment cocaine and heroin users drawn from a trial of brief motivation in the outpatient clinics of an inner-city academic hospital. Key differences were identified in drug of choice, in all of the ASI domains except medical, in validity of self-report of use, and in rate of treatment contact. Differences related to race and ethnicity should be evaluated to determine needs for a variety of substance abuse treatment modalities, assure timely access to culturally competent care, and develop policies that are tailored to real conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Maternal and Child Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tassiopoulos
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valentine
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Heeren
authors.forename: Suzette
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Levenson
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hingson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health / Q000208:ethnology*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D044469:Racial Groups; D012650:Self Disclosure; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data