Chronic illicit drug use, health services utilization and the cost of medical care

Type and Location of Injection Drug Use-Related Soft Tissue Infections Predict Hospitalization

“…Drug users have been reported to consume fewer ambulatory care services and more inpatient and emergency department services than nondrug users. [18][19][20] Our finding that hospital stays for soft tissue infections are much shorter (median 2 days) than previously reported (mean 12-13 days) 14,15 is consistent with a recent study in San Francisco (average stay 3.2 days). 7 While that study described an increase in health care utilization for all soft tissue infections, including those unrelated to injection drug use, the present study assessed health care utilization for soft tissue infections specifically related to injection drug use.…”

The extent of injection site infection in injecting drug users: findings from a national surveillance study

“…The failure to seek earlier treatment probably reflects obstacles, e.g. barriers to accessing care and poor compliance with medication and follow-up care, and competing priorities such as obtaining money and acquiring and using drugs [10,24,28,29]. Thus, the high levels of reported symptoms found here are a concern and highlight the need for interventions.…”

Health Care Utilization Among Drug-Using and Non-Drug-Using Women

“…In addition, the focus has shifted to drug treatment sites as a place for connecting drug users with health services. [13][14][15] Studies among out-of-treatment users are less common, 7,14 as are those comparing users to their nonusing counterparts. 5,13,16,17 Determinants of health, the need for health care, and access to care all have been shown to differ according to age, gender, racial or ethnic background, socio-economic status, geographic location, and various enabling conditions.…”

“…[13][14][15] Studies among out-of-treatment users are less common, 7,14 as are those comparing users to their nonusing counterparts. 5,13,16,17 Determinants of health, the need for health care, and access to care all have been shown to differ according to age, gender, racial or ethnic background, socio-economic status, geographic location, and various enabling conditions. [18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28] In this article, we address those factors that have traditionally been associated with health care utilization in previous studies, but also examine the independent and interrelated contribution of age and drug use to utilization of services among a group of potentially underserved women.…”