title: Factors associated with professional support access among a prospective cohort of methamphetamine users.
abstract: Encouraging out-of-treatment methamphetamine users who engage in problematic use patterns to initiate access of drug treatment and other health and support services is a key focus of drug policy. We followed a community-recruited cohort (N = 255) of regular methamphetamine users in Melbourne, Australia, to investigate patterns of engagement with professional support for methamphetamine use and/or associated harms over 12 months. Multivariate logistic regression identified factors independently associated with initiating contact with services during follow-up. Generalised estimating equations identified factors associated with current (at the time of interview) service access. General practitioners were the most common source of professional support during follow-up (24%). Overall, service utilisation was associated with riskier methamphetamine use patterns (e.g., injecting), professional support access for other issues (e.g., mental health), and greater experience of methamphetamine-related harms (e.g., adverse social consequences). These findings provide insights to inform strategies that will improve treatment initiation and retention by methamphetamine users.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Population Health, Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Rd, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia. brendanq@burnet.edu.au
authors.forename: Brendan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Quinn
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stoové
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dietze
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D058005:General Practitioners / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012309:Risk-Taking; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014739:Victoria / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D008694:Methamphetamine