Publications by authors named "Ron Alcorn"
The estimated number of opiate users in Russia is 2,000,000 and heroin consumption is continuing to increase. The Russian government is discussing the initiation of compulsory treatment to bring illegal drug users to the treatment services. At the same time, there is no access to the evidence-based treatment for opiate addiction such as methadone and buprenorphine maintenance programs.
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- The study examined the views of injection drug users (IDUs) in three Russian cities on drug abuse treatment and providers, highlighting their experiences from interviews conducted in 2003-2004.
- Negative perceptions of treatment stemmed from poor outcomes, judgmental staff, lack of psychological support, and short treatment durations, while positive views were linked to psychosocial care and supportive providers.
- Although IDUs were skeptical about the effectiveness of opiate substitution therapy in Russia, they generally believed it could improve their ability to integrate into society.
Objectives: To assess factors influencing access to drug treatment among injecting drug users (IDUs) in two Russian cities.
Methods: Eighty-six qualitative interviews were conducted with IDUs in Volgograd and Barnaul in 2003. IDUs were recruited through local drug treatment services, needle exchanges, and drug user networks.