AI Article Synopsis

  • The study examines the demographics, substance use, and self-rated health of individuals seeking treatment in New South Wales for various drugs, focusing on alcohol, opioids, and stimulants.
  • A total of 14,087 people were analyzed; most were male (66.5%), aged 20-39 years (50.4%), and predominantly Australian-born (86.7%), with alcohol being the most common principal drug of concern.
  • The findings indicate a high prevalence of social disadvantage and poor health outcomes among these individuals, suggesting the need for tailored health services that address the specific characteristics of each drug use group.

Article Abstract

Objective: To investigate the demographic characteristics, substance use, and self-rated health of people entering treatment in New South Wales public health services for alcohol, amphetamine-type stimulants, cannabis, cocaine, or opioids use, by principal drug of concern.

Design: Baseline findings of a cohort study; analysis of data in patient electronic medical records and NSW minimum data set for drug and alcohol treatment services.

Setting, Participants: People completing initial Australian Treatment Outcomes Profile (ATOP) assessments on entry to publicly funded alcohol and other drug treatment services in six NSW local health districts/networks, 1 July 2016 - 30 June 2019.

Main Outcome Measures: Socio-demographic characteristics, and substance use and self-rated health (psychological, physical, quality of life) during preceding 28 days, by principal drug of concern.

Results: Of 14 087 people included in our analysis, the principal drug of concern was alcohol for 6051 people (43%), opioids for 3158 (22%), amphetamine-type stimulants for 2534 (18%), cannabis for 2098 (15%), and cocaine for 246 (2%). Most people commencing treatment were male (9373, 66.5%), aged 20-39 years (7846, 50.4%), and were born in Australia (10 934, 86.7%). Polysubstance use was frequently reported, particularly by people for whom opioids or amphetamine-type stimulants were the principal drugs of concern. Large proportions used tobacco daily (53-82%, by principal drug of concern group) and reported poor psychological health (47-59%), poor physical health (32-44%), or poor quality of life (43-52%).

Conclusions: The prevalence of social disadvantage and poor health is high among people seeking assistance with alcohol, amphetamine-type stimulants, cannabis, cocaine, or opioids use problems. Given the differences in these characteristics by principal drug of concern, health services should collect comprehensive patient information during assessment to facilitate more holistic, tailored, and person-centred care.

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Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.5694/mja2.52039DOI Listing

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