The impact of PSTD on service access among people who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada

Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy

Annemarie Goytan¹  William Lee¹  M. J. Milloy²  Thomas Kerr²  Kanna Hayashi³  Huiru Dong⁴ 

[1] British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, V6Z 2A9, Vancouver, BC, Canada;British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, V6Z 2A9, Vancouver, BC, Canada;Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada;British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, V6Z 2A9, Vancouver, BC, Canada;Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada;British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, V6Z 2A9, Vancouver, BC, Canada;School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada;

关键词: Post-traumatic stress disorder;    Drug use;    Mental health;    Trauma;    Healthcare;    Service access;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s13011-021-00390-x

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundSettings throughout the United States and Canada are contending with high rates of drug-related overdose. This in turn has prompted efforts to more effectively engage people who use drugs (PWUD) in treatment and care. However, while co-morbid mental disorders are prevalent among PWUD and can undermine access to services, the impact of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on service access is not known. Therefore, we sought to assess whether PTSD is associated with difficulties accessing health and social services among PWUD in Vancouver, Canada.MethodsSurvey data was derived from two prospective cohorts of PWUD in Vancouver, Canada for the period of April 2017 to November 2018. PTSD was assessed using the PTSD Checklist for the DSM-V (PCL-5). Generalized estimating equations (GEE) was used to estimate the relationship between PTSD and self-reported inability to access health and social services, after adjustment for confounders.ResultsAmong 810 participants included in our analysis, 316 (39.0%) participants qualified for a provisional PSTD diagnosis, and 117 (14.4%) reported difficulties accessing services. In a multivariable GEE analysis, a PTSD diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio = 1.69, 95% confidence interval: 1.12–2.55) was independently associated with difficulties accessing services.ConclusionsWe found high rates of PTSD and self-reported difficulties accessing services among PWUD in Vancouver, as well as a positive association between PTSD and difficulties with service access. These findings highlight the need for trauma-informed approaches to service delivery for PWUD, as well as enhanced provider training specific to PTSD.

【 授权许可】

CC BY