Patterns of drug treatment entry by Latino male injection drug users from different national/geographical backgrounds.
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.
Reynoso-Vallejo
Humberto
H
Boston University School of Social Work, 264 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215, USA. humberto@bu.edu
Chassler
Deborah
D
Witas
Julie
J
Lundgren
Lena M
LM
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*
D003932:Heroin