title: Barriers to providing health services for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C virus infection and sexually transmitted infections in substance abuse treatment programs in the United States.
abstract: We sought to identify barriers to offering services for HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C virus, and sexually transmitted infections in substance abuse treatment programs. We surveyed treatment program administrators and clinicians within the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network to evaluate the availability of medical and non-medical services for patients with or at risk for acquiring these infections. A substantial proportion of programs do not offer services (particularly medical services) for these infections. The most commonly cited barriers were funding, health insurance benefits, patient acceptance, and staff training. The findings highlight a missed opportunity to positively impact these infectious disease epidemics.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology, VA New York Harbor Healthcare System and New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Edmund J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Bini
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kritz
authors.forename: Lawrence S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robinson
authors.forename: Don
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alderson
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rotrosen
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000628:therapy*; D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006678:HIV; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006298:Health Services Administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016174:Hepacivirus; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States