Pubdate: Tue, 21 Dec 1999 Source: Reuters Copyright: 1999 Reuters Limited. MOST DRUG USERS LACK ACCESS TO TREATMENT NEW YORK, Dec 21 (Reuters Health) -- Drug-abuse treatment programs can result in major reductions in drug use and related crime, but despite these positive effects, most drug users do not receive treatment, researchers report. In fact, the number of treatment programs is declining. According to Dr. Marjorie Gutman, of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and Dr. Richard Clayton, of the University of Kentucky in Lexington, less than a quarter of drug users in the United States receives treatment for addiction. During the last decade, not only has the number of drug-treatment programs declined, but also the quality of the treatment has worsened, the researchers report in the November/December issue of the American Journal of Health Prevention. Part of the problem is that managed care health plans often offer coverage for mental health through a separate organization than for physical health, they note. Despite the declining availability of drug treatment, from 30% to 50% of drug users who undergo treatment are able to stay off drugs, according to the report. While this number may seem low, Gutman and Clayton point out that this rate is similar to the percentage of people with diabetes or asthma who keep their condition under control. However, for two groups of people, those who abuse more than one drug and those who are mentally ill, there are few drug treatment programs designed to meet their needs, according to the authors. The researchers also report that two drug-related programs, needle-exchanges for injection drug users and treatment for drug addicted pregnant women, are the source of significant controversy. On the prevention front, while some studies have shown that schoolchildren enrolled in drug-education programs are about half as likely to use drugs as other kids, another study has found that DARE, a drug education program used by more than half of all US schools, has little effect on drug use. SOURCE - American Journal of Health Promotion 1999;14:92-97. - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake