Perceived need for substance abuse treatment among illicit stimulant drug users in rural areas of Ohio, Arkansas, and Kentucky

Falck, Russel S.; Wang, Jichuan; Carlson, Robert G.; Krishnan, Laura L.; Leukefeld, Carl; Booth, Brenda M.

doi:10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2007.05.015

« Previous Next »Drug and Alcohol Dependence
Volume 91, Issue 2 , Pages 107-114, 1 December 2007

Perceived need for substance abuse treatment among illicit stimulant drug users in rural areas of Ohio, Arkansas, and Kentucky

Russel S. Falck
- Center for Interventions, Treatment, and Addictions Research, Department of Community Health, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, USA
- Corresponding author at: WSUBSOM, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Dayton, OH 45435, USA. Tel.: +1 937 775 2066; fax: +1 937 775 2214.
Jichuan Wang
- Center for Interventions, Treatment, and Addictions Research, Department of Community Health, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, USA
Robert G. Carlson
- Center for Interventions, Treatment, and Addictions Research, Department of Community Health, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, USA
Laura L. Krishnan
- Center for Interventions, Treatment, and Addictions Research, Department of Community Health, Boonshoft School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH 45435, USA
Carl Leukefeld
- Department of Behavioral Science, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA
Brenda M. Booth
- Division of Health Services Research, Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA

Received 5 March 2007; received in revised form 2 May 2007; accepted 8 May 2007.

Abstract

Non-medical drug use in rural communities in the United States is a significant and growing public health threat. Understanding what motivates drug users in rural areas to seek substance abuse treatment may help in addressing the problem. Perceived need for treatment, a construct indicative of problem recognition and belief in problem solution, has been identified as an important predictor of help-seeking behavior. This cross-sectional study used data collected through face-to-face interviews to examine factors associated with perceived need for drug abuse treatment among not-in-treatment, adult, illicit stimulant drug users (n=710) in rural areas of Ohio, Kentucky, and Arkansas. More than one-quarter of the sample perceived a need for treatment. Results from a stepwise multiple regression analysis showed that white users, users with better physical and mental health status, and occasional users of methamphetamine were significantly less likely to see a need for treatment. Users with higher Addiction Severity Index composite scores for family/social problems or legal problems, and users with prior drug abuse treatment experience were significantly more likely to perceive a need for treatment. These findings have practical implications for efforts addressing substance abuse in rural areas.