Barriers to accessing methamphetamine treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

The primary barriers to accessing methamphetamine treatment are psychosocial/internal. Services and treatment models that address these barriers are urgently required. There is a growing need for methamphetamine-appropriate treatment services. Further research evaluating treatment engagement and effectiveness for methamphetamine and polysubstance use, including the development of effective pharmacotherapies is warranted.

Theory-Based Text-Messaging to Reduce Methamphetamine Use and HIV Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Men Who Have Sex with Men: Automated Unidirectional Delivery Outperforms Bidirectional Peer Interactive Delivery

“…Meta-analytic evidence suggests that the primary barriers discouraging MSM methamphetamine users from accessing methamphetamine abuse treatment are psychosocial in nature (e.g., stigma/embarrassment, privacy concerns; 32–33), obstacles which are endemic to brick-and-mortar treatment modalities but which can easily be addressed through technology-based delivery. The ability to send and receive text messages has been highlighted as a particularly well-suited tool to intervene in the risk behaviors of MSM (34–35).…”

NHS commissioning in probation in England - Still on a wing and a prayer

“…The higher prevalence of many health problems among probation clients is rarely considered when services are commissioned (Brooker & Ramsbotham, ; Brooker et al, ). Moreover people on probation face many barriers to accessing care and often do not engage with healthcare services until they reach crisis point due to numerous personal, societal and service‐level barriers (Brooker et al, ; Cumming, Troeung, Young, Kelty, & Preen, ; Donnelle & Hall, ; Flanagan, ; Howerton et al, ; Marlow et al, ; Plugge et al, ).…”

“…This could be informed by previous research and policy papers, which have already highlighted the need to overcome gaps in service provision where services simply do not exist to meet some health needs, reduce long waiting lists, change restricted opening times so that services are open when people need them most, change referral criteria or models of service provision so that those with complex healthcare needs do not fall through the gaps between services, treat service users as people rather than problems, and consider co‐location of criminal justice and health services to improve access to healthcare (Cumming et al, ; Donnelle & Hall, ; NHS England, ; Sirdifield & Owen, ). These papers also suggest potential approaches that could be formally trialled such as GP registration schemes, specialty probation, and models of partnership working and co‐production (Lang et al, ; Revolving Doors Agency, ; Sirdifield et al, ; Skeem & Eno Louden, ).…”

Commentary on Boumpariset al. (2017): It works, but only if they use it-addressing treatment adherence and attrition in internet interventions for illicit substance use

“…The internet has become a ubiquitous source of health‐care information for many individuals, and the number of studies examining the internet as a platform for health‐care delivery has grown dramatically . Internet‐based interventions for illicit substance use offer many potential benefits: they circumvent known barriers associated with conventional face‐to‐face therapies, including poor access to services, fear of stigma and financial and logistical constraints , and may present additional benefits such as increased treatment personalization and reduced therapist time and treatment costs . In light of the growing health burden associated with illicit substance use and the persistently low rates of treatment utilization , data on the efficacy of internet interventions for illicit substance use are needed to evaluate their potential as a viable treatment option.…”