What features of drug treatment programs help, or not, with access? a qualitative study of the perspectives of family members and community-based organization staff in Atlantic Canada
Abstract Background Withdrawal management and opioid agonist treatment (OAT) programs help to reduce some of the harms experienced by people who use substances (PWUS). There is literature on how features of drug treatment programs (e.g., policies and practices) are helpful, or not helpful, to PWUS w...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-024-00602-0 |
| _version_ | 1797247504384786432 |
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| author | Holly Mathias Lois A. Jackson Jane A. Buxton Anik Dubé Niki Kiepek Fiona Martin Paula Martin |
| author_facet | Holly Mathias Lois A. Jackson Jane A. Buxton Anik Dubé Niki Kiepek Fiona Martin Paula Martin |
| author_sort | Holly Mathias |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Withdrawal management and opioid agonist treatment (OAT) programs help to reduce some of the harms experienced by people who use substances (PWUS). There is literature on how features of drug treatment programs (e.g., policies and practices) are helpful, or not helpful, to PWUS when seeking access to, or in, treatment. There is, however, relatively little literature based on the perspectives of family members/family of choice of PWUS and community-based organization staff within the context of Atlantic Canada. This paper explored the perspectives of these two groups on what was helpful, or not, about drug treatment programs in Atlantic Canada in terms of supporting access to, and retention in, treatment. Methods One-on-one qualitative telephone interviews were conducted in 2020 with the two groups. Interviews focused on government-funded withdrawal management and OAT programs. Data were coded using a qualitative data management program (ATLAS.ti) and analyzed inductively for key themes/subthemes using grounded theory techniques. Results Fifteen family members/family of choice and 16 community-based organization staff members participated (n = 31). Participants spoke about features of drug treatment programs in various places, and noted features that were perceived as helpful (e.g., quick access), as well as not helpful (e.g., wait times, programs located far from where PWUS live). Some participants provided their perceptions of how PWUS felt when seeking or accessing treatment. A number of participants reported taking various actions to help support access to treatment, including providing transportation to programs. A few participants also provided suggestions for change to help support access and retention such as better alignment of mental health and addiction systems. Conclusions Participants highlighted several helpful and not helpful features of drug treatment programs in terms of supporting treatment access and retention. Previous studies with PWUS and in other places have reported similar features, some of which (e.g., wait times) have been reported for many years. Changes are needed to reduce barriers to access and retention including the changes recommended by study participants. It is critical that the voices of key groups, (including PWUS) are heard to ensure treatment programs in all places support access and retention. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T19:59:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e9cf7a1e9fda4abbbe1ea1b485b56d53 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1747-597X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T19:59:45Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy |
| spelling | doaj.art-e9cf7a1e9fda4abbbe1ea1b485b56d532024-03-24T12:10:43ZengBMCSubstance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy1747-597X2024-03-0119111210.1186/s13011-024-00602-0What features of drug treatment programs help, or not, with access? a qualitative study of the perspectives of family members and community-based organization staff in Atlantic CanadaHolly Mathias0Lois A. Jackson1Jane A. Buxton2Anik Dubé3Niki Kiepek4Fiona Martin5Paula Martin6School of Public Health, University of AlbertaSchool of Health and Human Performance, Dalhousie UniversitySchool of Population and Public Health, University of British ColumbiaFaculty of Health Sciences and Community Services, School of Nursing, Université de MonctonSchool of Occupational Therapy, Dalhousie UniversityDepartment of Sociology and Social Anthropology, Dalhousie UniversityDirection 180Abstract Background Withdrawal management and opioid agonist treatment (OAT) programs help to reduce some of the harms experienced by people who use substances (PWUS). There is literature on how features of drug treatment programs (e.g., policies and practices) are helpful, or not helpful, to PWUS when seeking access to, or in, treatment. There is, however, relatively little literature based on the perspectives of family members/family of choice of PWUS and community-based organization staff within the context of Atlantic Canada. This paper explored the perspectives of these two groups on what was helpful, or not, about drug treatment programs in Atlantic Canada in terms of supporting access to, and retention in, treatment. Methods One-on-one qualitative telephone interviews were conducted in 2020 with the two groups. Interviews focused on government-funded withdrawal management and OAT programs. Data were coded using a qualitative data management program (ATLAS.ti) and analyzed inductively for key themes/subthemes using grounded theory techniques. Results Fifteen family members/family of choice and 16 community-based organization staff members participated (n = 31). Participants spoke about features of drug treatment programs in various places, and noted features that were perceived as helpful (e.g., quick access), as well as not helpful (e.g., wait times, programs located far from where PWUS live). Some participants provided their perceptions of how PWUS felt when seeking or accessing treatment. A number of participants reported taking various actions to help support access to treatment, including providing transportation to programs. A few participants also provided suggestions for change to help support access and retention such as better alignment of mental health and addiction systems. Conclusions Participants highlighted several helpful and not helpful features of drug treatment programs in terms of supporting treatment access and retention. Previous studies with PWUS and in other places have reported similar features, some of which (e.g., wait times) have been reported for many years. Changes are needed to reduce barriers to access and retention including the changes recommended by study participants. It is critical that the voices of key groups, (including PWUS) are heard to ensure treatment programs in all places support access and retention.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-024-00602-0Family membersCommunity-based organizationsDrug treatment accessAddiction treatmentOATWithdrawal management |
| spellingShingle | Holly Mathias Lois A. Jackson Jane A. Buxton Anik Dubé Niki Kiepek Fiona Martin Paula Martin What features of drug treatment programs help, or not, with access? a qualitative study of the perspectives of family members and community-based organization staff in Atlantic Canada Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy Family members Community-based organizations Drug treatment access Addiction treatment OAT Withdrawal management |
| title | What features of drug treatment programs help, or not, with access? a qualitative study of the perspectives of family members and community-based organization staff in Atlantic Canada |
| title_full | What features of drug treatment programs help, or not, with access? a qualitative study of the perspectives of family members and community-based organization staff in Atlantic Canada |
| title_fullStr | What features of drug treatment programs help, or not, with access? a qualitative study of the perspectives of family members and community-based organization staff in Atlantic Canada |
| title_full_unstemmed | What features of drug treatment programs help, or not, with access? a qualitative study of the perspectives of family members and community-based organization staff in Atlantic Canada |
| title_short | What features of drug treatment programs help, or not, with access? a qualitative study of the perspectives of family members and community-based organization staff in Atlantic Canada |
| title_sort | what features of drug treatment programs help or not with access a qualitative study of the perspectives of family members and community based organization staff in atlantic canada |
| topic | Family members Community-based organizations Drug treatment access Addiction treatment OAT Withdrawal management |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13011-024-00602-0 |
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