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Esta página en EspañolSubstance Abuse Treatment

These fact sheets focus on HIV prevention issues related to substance abuse treatment:

Substance Abuse Treatment for Injection Drug Users: A Strategy with Many Benefits
Most injection drug users (IDUs) cannot stop using drugs on their own. Substance abuse treatment programs can help. However, substantial barriers exist to providing treatment to all IDUs who need and want it. (PDF)PDF Icon

What Can We Expect From Substance Abuse Treatment?
Expectations about the results of substance abuse treatment are often unrealistically high. Greater knowledge about the nature of addiction and the effectiveness of substance abuse treatment can help temper these expectations and lead to a better understanding of the benefits of treatment. (PDF)PDF Icon

Linking HIV Prevention Services and Substance Abuse Treatment Programs 
Substance abuse treatment is key to helping injection drug users reduce HIV transmission risk. Linking HIV prevention programs and substance abuse treatment offers considerable potential but also faces challenges. (PDF)PDF Icon

Methadone Maintenance Treatment 
Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) can help injection drug users (IDUs) reduce or stop injecting and return to productive lives. However, its use is still sometimes publicly controversial and many factors limit the effectiveness of MMT services. New federal regulations, which have overhauled the MMT system, promise a more flexible approach and improved delivery of these needed, life-saving services. (PDF)PDF Icon

Policy Issues and Challenges in Substance Abuse Treatment
Despite the current scientific consensus on the importance and effectiveness of substance abuse treatment, barriers persist to providing it to all who need or want it. A number of creative national initiatives and many other efforts on a local and individual level are breaking down these barriers. (PDF)PDF Icon

Substance Abuse Treatment and Public Health: Working Together to Benefit Injection Drug Users
Injection drug users (IDUs) often have multiple substance abuse, physical, and mental health problems. As a result, the providers who work with them - substance abuse treatment, HIV/STD prevention, mental health, corrections, primary care - need expertise and skills across a range of disciplines. Tensions among various providers have obstructed the coordinated service delivery that best addresses the needs of IDUs. Training involving providers from multiple disciplines can help staff improve their ability to work with IDUs and collaborate more effectively with other agencies. (PDF)PDF Icon

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