title: Consumer attitudes about opioid addiction treatment: a focus group study in New York City.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop effective programs for people who are opioid dependent and to impact the opioid epidemic in New York City, it is crucial to monitor attitudes about opioid addiction treatments among opioid users who have experienced barriers to engagement and retention in addiction treatment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The authors conducted a qualitative study using focus groups.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six focus groups in three needle exchanges in New York City were audio recorded, transcribed, and systematically coded. The authors report on the main themes related to the study objectives.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants of each needle exchange who were opioid dependent and had some knowledge of both methadone and buprenorphine were eligible.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were four main findings. Participants felt the following: 1) buprenorphine is an appropriate option for those heroin users who are motivated to stop using, 2) they have less control over their addiction treatment with methadone than they would have with buprenorphine, 3) buprenorphine treatment is not accessible to many New York City residents who would benefit from this treatment, and 4) lack of access to buprenorphine treatment is a cause of treatment-related diversion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both methadone maintenance and buprenorphine treatment opportunities are necessary to address the diverse treatment needs of opioid-dependent people in New York City. However, the current medical model of buprenorphine treatment may be too restrictive for some opioid-dependent people and may be contributing to the use of illicit buprenorphine. New models to deliver buprenorphine treatment may address these problems.
authors.affiliation: The City College of New York, Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Sohler
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: James E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Egan
authors.forename: Carolina M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Jamie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Favaro
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cordero
authors.forename: Chinazo O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Cunningham
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D055030:Drug Users / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018671:Needle-Exchange Programs; D009519:New York City; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D036301:Qualitative Research
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D002047:Buprenorphine; D008691:Methadone