Immigrants from Russia, Ukraine and the Caucasus Region: Differential Drug Use, Infectious Disease, and Related Outcomes

Abstract

This study examined drug use patterns, HIV/AIDS, and related outcomes among former Soviet Union (FSU) immigrants from Russia, Ukraine and the Caucasus mountain region in Israel who reported heroin use. A total of 253 FSU heroin users were interviewed from 2002 to 2007 as part of a large drug use surveillance study in Israel. Individuals were sampled at drug treatment facilities in an urban population center of the Negev region of Israel. Participants were assessed using the Addiction Severity Index, fifth edition. First, immigrants from Russia and Ukraine were compared; then, as a group, compared to those from the Caucasus region. Overall, ASI composite scores suggested comparable levels of addiction severity between the Russian and Ukrainian groups. However, Kavkaz immigrants are older, less likely to be employed, and have more severe scores on many of the drug use measures as compared to the other two nationalities. This study shows different drug use patterns exist among FSU immigrants. Such differences may be, in part, due to socioeconomic, geographic and other sociodemographic factors. Injection drug use, regardless of country/region of origin is a critical public health problem, especially given the link between injection drug use and infectious disease.

Alcohol Use and Treatment Among Former Soviet Union Immigrants in Israel: Review of Publications July 2009–December 2011

“…31 Table 2 illustrates the nine studies among immigrants from the FSU. Five of the nine studies published in this period [32][33][34][35][36][37] were conducted in previous years, and their results concur with the findings of the previous two reviews 1,2 and previous studies. 42,43 A total of 253 FSU heroin users 32 were interviewed from January 2002 to January 2007 at drug treatment facilities in the southern region of Israel.…”

Integration of health services improves multiple healthcare outcomes among HIV-infected people who inject drugs in Ukraine

“…The survey included several validated instruments, including health-related quality of life (HRQoL) using the 36-item Short Form of the Medical Outcomes Study (SF-36; Ware and Sherbourne, 1992) and components of the Addiction Severity Index (Cacciola et al, 2007; Isralowitz et al, 2009; McLellan et al, 1980). Quality healthcare indicator (QHI) questions were created independently for treatment of HIV, addiction and TB based on existing literature (Altice et al, 2010; Sylla et al, 2007; World Health Organization, 2008) and Ukraine’s Ministry of Health treatment guidelines.…”

Trajectories of Drug Abuse and Addiction Development Among FSU Immigrant Drug Users in Israel

“…A key characteristic of drug abuse among FSU immigrants is the “injection culture.” Multiple studies report Russian-speaking users’ high rates of injecting as compared with other cultural groups (Guarino et al, 2012; Isralowitz et al, 2007; Ranz et al, 2012; Yakhnich, 2016a). Injecting drugs exacerbates immigrant addicts’ medical problems and heightens their risk of vulnerability to infectious diseases (Isralowitz, Reznik, Rawson, & Hasson, 2009). In a qualitative study that explored drug abuse patterns among FSU immigrant addicts, the participants stated three main reasons for preferring injection: First, the types of drugs that were traditionally popular in the FSU (e.g., opium) could be consumed mainly by injection.…”