title: Patterns of drug treatment entry by Latino male injection drug users from different national/geographical backgrounds.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study examined patterns of treatment entry by Puerto Rican, Central American, Dominican, and other Latino male injection drug users (IDUs) in the state of Massachusetts over the time period 1996-2002. Specifically, it explored whether these populations had different patterns relative to three paths: entry into detoxification only, entry into residential treatment, or entry into methadone maintenance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a state-level MIS dataset on all substance abuse treatment entries to all licensed treatment programs, bi-variate and logistic regression methods were employed to examine patterns of drug treatment utilization among Latino men residing in Massachusetts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three logistic regression models, which controlled for age, education, homelessness, employment, history of mental health treatment, health insurance, criminal justice involvement, having injected drugs in the past month, and number of treatment entries, indicated that Puerto Rican men were significantly less likely to only use detoxification services and residential treatment services, and significantly more likely to enter methadone maintenance compared to Latino men from Central American, Dominican, or other Latino backgrounds. For example, Central American men were 2.4 times more likely to enter only detoxification programs and 54% less likely to enter methadone maintenance programs than Puerto Rican male IDUs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  For program planning, include the need to (a) develop varied drug treatment services to meet the needs of non-homogenous Latino groups within the population, (b) tailor outreach efforts to effectively reach all Latino groups, and (c) increase awareness among practitioners of differential patterns of treatment utilization.
authors.affiliation: Boston University School of Social Work, 264 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215, USA. humberto@bu.edu
authors.forename: Humberto
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Reynoso-Vallejo
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chassler
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Witas
authors.forename: Lena M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Lundgren
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002489:Central America / Q000208:ethnology; D004293:Dominican Republic / Q000208:ethnology; D003932:Heroin / Q000009:adverse effects; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011584:Psychology; D012042:Registries; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012114:Residential Treatment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*
chemical_list: D003932:Heroin