Initiation of addiction treatment and access to services: Young adults' accounts of their help-seeking experiences

Abstract

Substance addiction in young adults is particularly problematic. Yet, much remain at stake in understanding the specifics of this population's access to services. The objective of this study is to explore young adults' initiation of substance abuse treatment. Our study sample was composed of 35 individuals aged 18 to 30 with problematic psychoactive substance use who have been identified in criminal courts, hospital emergency departments and Health and Social Services Centers in Quebec (Canada). A thematic analysis was performed on the 62 semi-structured interviews conducted with participants. Three components emerged. First, personal elementsexpectations, individual motivations, perceptions of use and capacity to control itinfluence initiation of substance abuse treatment. Second, family and peers have noticeable influences. Finally, system characteristics and prior care experiences also shape the process. Consideration should be given to tailor interventions that can reach young adults and encourage them to initiate appropriate care.

“I Was Raised in Addiction”: Constructions of the Self and the Other in Discourses of Addiction and Recovery

“…Where is the boundary between addiction and drug misuse (or between the “addict” and “non-addict”; Bailey, 2005)? What is to be made of the liminal space between addiction and recovery (Wagner et al, 2016)? How is discrimination against individuals with substance use issues justified?…”

COVID‐19 pandemic‐related changes in utilization of telehealth and treatment overall for alcohol use problems

“…These gaps in alcohol treatment are consistent with a wider pattern of underutilization of alcohol treatment in the United States (Cohen et al, 2007; Grant et al, 2015). Low perceived need for treatment, beliefs that alcohol treatment is ineffective, or discomfort in sharing personal information in a group setting or with participating in mixed‐aged groups, may lead younger, healthier adults with alcohol problems to delay treatment until it negatively affects their health or other aspects of their life (Chapman et al, 2015; Gulliver et al, 2010; Wagner et al, 2017). By contrast, we found that adults aged 35–49 years who initiated treatment via telehealth had the greatest engagement and retention during the COVID‐19 onset period of any age group, which may indicate that telehealth has helped make treatment more accessible and convenient to this group of adults who may have busy lives with young children and careers.…”

The Good, the Bad, and the Vision: Exploring the Mental Health Care Experiences of Transitional-Aged Youth Using the Photovoice Method

“…Indeed, this issue represents a global health problem, and is a rapidly growing area of clinical research internationally (Iorfino et al, 2019; Leeb et al, 2020; Lindgren et al, 2015; Signorini et al, 2018). Not only is the TAY population underserviced, but the limited treatment and intervention programs offered also seldom reflect the unique challenges of this cohort as they enter adulthood (Office of the Provincial Advocate for Children and Youth for Ontario, 2013; Shah & Boudos, 2012; Wagner et al, 2017). Furthermore, a lack of mental health funding is a pervasive issue that greatly restricts the accessibility and comprehensiveness of psychiatric supports (MHCC, 2014).…”