title: Factors related to psychosocial barriers to drug treatment among Chinese drug users.
abstract: Although substance abuse treatment has been considerably scaled up in China, impediments to accessing these services remain among drug users. The authors examine the primary psychosocial barriers to drug treatment in this population and evaluate factors associated with these barriers. Barriers to accessing drug treatment were measured using the Barriers to Treatment Inventory (BTI). A Structural Equation Model was used to examine whether the internal barriers were associated with treatment history and frequent methamphetamine use as well as how demographic characteristics influence such barriers. We found four primary factors of internal barriers to drug treatment--absence of problem, negative social support, fear of treatment, and privacy concerns--to fit well. Demographic factors, notably age and employment status, indirectly influence barriers to treatment via other factors. Frequency of methamphetamine use and drug treatment history are directly associated with the absence of problem and negative social support dimensions of the BTI, and it is through these pathways that demographic factors such as age and employment status shape barriers to treatment. The findings indicate that perceived absence of a problem and negative social support are the barriers most influenced by the personal domains of Chinese drug users' lives. Efforts to engage drug users in China about drug treatment options may consider how these barriers are differentially perceived in order to effectively reach this population.
authors.affiliation: Purdue University, USA. Electronic address: bckelly@purdue.edu.
authors.forename: Brian C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Institute of Central South University, China. Electronic address: liutieq@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Tieqiao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Institute of Central South University, China.
authors.forename: Guanbai
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Institute of Central South University, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: Children's National Medical Center/George Washington University, USA.
authors.forename: Jichuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019969:Amphetamine-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055030:Drug Users / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008694:Methamphetamine; D008960:Models, Psychological; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D008694:Methamphetamine
keywords: Barriers; China; Drug treatment