A Cross-Sectional Assessment of Utilization of Addiction Treatment among Injection Drug Users in Kabul, Afghanistan

The purpose of this study was to describe prior use of detoxification and addiction-treatment programs among injection drug users (IDUs) in Kabul, Afghanistan. From 2005-2006, IDUs (n = 464) recruited into this cross-sectional study completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire and whole blood...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Substance use & misuse 2009-01, Vol.44 (3), p.416-430
Main Authors: Todd, Catherine S., Abed, Abdullah M.S., Scott, Paul T., Safi, Naqibullah, Earhart, Kenneth C., Strathdee, Steffanie A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
addiction treatment
Addictive behaviors
Adolescent
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Afghanistan
Biological and medical sciences
Cross-Sectional Studies
Detoxification
Drug addiction
Humans
Inactivation, Metabolic
injecting drug user
Interviews as Topic
Intravenous drug addiction
Male
Medical sciences
needle exchange program
Needle-Exchange Programs
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Substance Abuse Treatment Centers - statistics & numerical data
Substance Abuse, Intravenous
Treatment needs
Young Adult
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Summary:The purpose of this study was to describe prior use of detoxification and addiction-treatment programs among injection drug users (IDUs) in Kabul, Afghanistan. From 2005-2006, IDUs (n = 464) recruited into this cross-sectional study completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire and whole blood rapid testing with fingerstick samples for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis C antibody and B surface antigen testing. Participants were predominantly male (99.8%), Afghan (98.9%), and had little formal education. Correlates of detoxification and addiction treatment were identified with logistic regression. The majority (94.0%, n = 435) felt great/urgent need for treatment, of whom 56.3% (n = 245) reported inability to access treatment. Prior detoxification was associated with new needle use with each injection (AOR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.12-3.26) and prior incarceration (AOR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.04-3.13). The study's limitations are noted. Rapid scale-up and subsidy of needle and syringe programs and opioid agonist treatment is urgently needed in Kabul.
ISSN:1082-6084
1532-2491
DOI:10.1080/10826080802347669