%0 Journal Article
%T Experiences from a Community Based Substance Use Treatment Centre in an Urban Resettlement Colony in India
%A Yatan Pal Singh Balhara
%A Rajeev Ranjan
%A Anju Dhawan
%A Deepak Yadav
%J Journal of Addiction
%D 2014
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2014/982028
%X Background. There are limited community based treatment services for drug dependence in India. Rural areas and urban resettlement colonies are in particular deficient in such services. Aims. The current study aimed at preliminary assessment of substance use disorder management services at a community based substance use treatment clinic in an urban resettlement colony. Methods. The study was carried out at community based substance use treatment centre in a resettlement colony in India. The records of the centre were chart reviewed. Results. A total of 754 patients were registered at the clinic during the study period. Heroin was the primary drug of abuse for 63% of the patients. The mean duration of follow-up for the patients with opioid and alcohol dependence was 13.47 (; range 0¨C39) months. A total of 220 patients of opioid dependence were prescribed substation or abstinence directed therapy. Buprenorphine (87), slow release oral morphine (SROM) (16), and dextropropoxyphene (98) were used for opioid substitution. Conclusion. It is possible to deliver substance use disorder treatment services in community setting. There is a need to develop area specific community based treatment services for substance abuse in socially disadvantaged populations such as urban resettlement colonies. 1. Introduction Drug use and dependence are a major public health problem globally. While tobacco and alcohol are most commonly used drugs in India, cannabis and opioids top the list of most commonly used illicit substances. As per the findings of a national survey in India, there are 62.5 million users of alcohol, 8.7 million users of cannabis, and 2 million users of opioids [1]. There is wide treatment gap for the substance users in the country [2]. Additionally most of the treatment services are centrally located. Urbanization is a phenomenon that has become increasingly important for developed as well as developing countries over the last century [3, 4]. Consequently urban environment becomes important as a potential determinant of both health and health behavior [5]. Additionally it presents challenges with regard to meeting the health care needs of individuals inhabiting these areas. Geographical access is an important determinant of treatment utilization in the general population [6]. Substance use treatment services have been criticized for not being easily available and accessible to those in need for such services. Longer travel distances are associated with shorter length of stay and lower probability of completion and aftercare utilization of substance use
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/jad/2014/982028/