title: Perceptions of need, service use, and barriers to service access among female methamphetamine users in rural Appalachia.
abstract: Active substance users have been characterized as ambivalent about accessing treatment services. Few studies have addressed the social context and related barriers that individuals experience in addressing substance abuse problems. These barriers appear to be heightened for female methamphetamine users living in rural areas of Appalachia. The purpose of this study is to document the willingness of active female methamphetamine users to access substance abuse treatment services, their ability to access substance abuse treatment services, and the barriers they experienced in accessing substance abuse treatment services. Findings from a sample of 153 rural female methamphetamine users revealed the majority of respondents met the criteria for substance dependence (99.3%), believed they had a drug problem (84.9%), believed they needed treatment services (62.9%), and wanted to go to treatment "now" (51.4%). However, only one fourth (26.8%) had accessed treatment, and many had experienced barriers in attempting to enter treatment services.
authors: College of Social Work, University of Tennessee, Nashville Campus, Nashville, Tennessee 37210, USA. smacmast@utk.edu
authors: Samuel A
authors: SA
authors: MacMaster
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001061:Appalachian Region; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D054625:Healthcare Disparities / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013714:Tennessee / Q000453:epidemiology