title: Attitudes of methadone program staff toward provision of harm-reduction and other services.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The need for expansion of health services provided in drug treatment programs has been widely discussed since the beginning of the HIV epidemic among drug users. Service expansion has focused on various types of services including medical services (eg, primary care) and harm-reduction services (eg, provision of sterile syringes).
  
  
  METHODS
  A staff survey was conducted in 8 methadone maintenance clinics in the New York/New Jersey area to assess attitudes toward the provision of harm reduction and other services in methadone clinics, and the relationship of these attitudes to other variables.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 114 staff members in 8 methadone maintenance clinics completed the survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of staff was supportive of adding services, over 90% supported medical services, and the majority supported harm-reduction services such as syringe access and disposal services. Higher education and HIV knowledge levels were significant correlates of favorable attitudes toward service provision.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Support for providing harm-reduction services in methadone maintenance clinics was found. Enhancing knowledge of staff regarding various types of health services, and engaging them in how best to institute new services, should be undertaken when new services are planned.
authors: New York University College of Nursing, New York, NY 10003, USA. shd2@nyu.edu
authors: Sherry
authors: S
authors: Deren
authors: Sung-Yeon
authors: SY
authors: Kang
authors: Milton
authors: M
authors: Mino
authors: Randy M
authors: RM
authors: Seewald
mesh_terms: D015492:AIDS Serodiagnosis; D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003625:Data Collection; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005260:Female; D040261:Harm Reduction; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018671:Needle-Exchange Programs; D009515:New Jersey; D009518:New York; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000523:psychology*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D012050:Rehabilitation, Vocational
chemical_list: D008691:Methadone