Pollack H; Academy for Health Services Research and Health Policy. Meeting.

Abstr Acad Health Serv Res Health Policy Meet. 2001; 18: 37.

Health Management and Policy, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 109 Observatory, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2029, Phone: (734) 936-1298, Fax: (734) 764-4338, E-mail: haroldp@sph.umich.edu

RESEARCH OBJECTIVE: To examine racial disparities in methadone dosage among clients in substance abuse treatment.STUDY DESIGN: Data are drawn from a nationally representative sample of drug treatment units, including 119 units that provided methadone treatment services. Panel data are used from the 1988, 1990, 1995, & 1999 waves. Fixed-effects and random-effect regression specifications are used to explore the impact of race/ethnicity on the proportion of methadone treatment clients who receive methadone dosages below recommended dosages. Low dosage is operationalized with several thresholds, including a threshold of 60mg in the baseline case.POPULATION STUDIED: Injection drug users who receive substance abuse treatment services.PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Methadone dosages substantially increased between 1988 and 1999 in all demographic groups. However, racial disparities in the prevalence of suboptimal dosing appear to have increased. African-American clients, clients at facilities with a high percentage of African-American treatment staff, and clients at facilities with African-American directors were more likely than other injection drug users to receive low methadone doses.CONCLUSIONS: Race/ethnicity is significantly associated with methadone dosage. African-Americans appear more likely than non-Hispanic whites to receive low methadone doses. The organizational, cultural, or financial mechanisms that produce these disparities remains unknown.IMPLICATIONS FOR POLICY, DELIVERY, OR PRACTICE: Given the importance of adequate methadone dosing for reduced drug use and reduced HIV risk, racial disparities in methadone dosage are an important policy concern. Given widespread ambivalence about methadone among the general public, among drug treatment professionals, and among drug treatment clients themselves, an open dialogue regarding the benefits and drawbacks of methadone treatment is essential to ensure appropriate, culturally-competent care. Competent treatment to injection drug users.PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: NIDA

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• African Americans
• European Continental Ancestry Group
• Humans
• Methadone
• Substance-Related Disorders
• hsrmtgs

Other ID:

• GWHSR0001543

UI: 102273218

From Meeting Abstracts