TY - JOUR
T1 - Trend Analysis of Substance Abuse Treatment Admissions in New Orleans From 2000–2012
T2 - A Population-Based Comparison Pre- and Post-Hurricane Katrina
AU - Shuler, Monique N.
AU - Wallington, Sherrie F.
AU - Qualls-Hampton, Raquel Y.
AU - Podesta, Arwen E.
AU - Suzuki, Sumihiro
PY - 2016/10/14
Y1 - 2016/10/14
N2 - Background: Substance abuse treatment following a natural disaster is often met with challenges. If treatment is available, facilities may be unequipped to service an influx of patients or provide specialized care for unique populations. Objectives: This paper seeks to evaluate trends in substance abuse treatment over time and assess changes pre- and post-Hurricane Katrina. Methods: Substance abuse treatment admission data (N = 42,678) from New Orleans, Louisiana, for years 2000 through 2012 were obtained from the Treatment Episode Data Set. Admissions were examined to evaluate demographic, socioeconomic, psychiatric, and criminality trends in substance abuse treatment and assess changes following Hurricane Katrina. Results: Treatment admissions have decreased from 2000 to 2012. About one in five admissions had a psychiatric illness in addition to a substance abuse problem. A staggering 76% of admissions with a psychiatric illness were referred by the criminal justice system post-Katrina as compared to pre-Katrina. Rates of alcohol and marijuana admissions have remained stable from 2000 to 2012. Cocaine/crack admissions have declined and admissions who abused heroin have increased over time. Conclusions: Treatment admissions stabilized following Hurricane Katrina; however, since 2009, they have begun to decline. Targeted exploration of factors affecting admission to treatment in New Orleans with populations such as the homeless, those with a psychiatric illness in addition to a substance abuse problem, and those referred by the criminal justice system is essential. The results of this study assist in identifying variations in substance abuse treatment characteristics for those admitted to treatment in New Orleans.
AB - Background: Substance abuse treatment following a natural disaster is often met with challenges. If treatment is available, facilities may be unequipped to service an influx of patients or provide specialized care for unique populations. Objectives: This paper seeks to evaluate trends in substance abuse treatment over time and assess changes pre- and post-Hurricane Katrina. Methods: Substance abuse treatment admission data (N = 42,678) from New Orleans, Louisiana, for years 2000 through 2012 were obtained from the Treatment Episode Data Set. Admissions were examined to evaluate demographic, socioeconomic, psychiatric, and criminality trends in substance abuse treatment and assess changes following Hurricane Katrina. Results: Treatment admissions have decreased from 2000 to 2012. About one in five admissions had a psychiatric illness in addition to a substance abuse problem. A staggering 76% of admissions with a psychiatric illness were referred by the criminal justice system post-Katrina as compared to pre-Katrina. Rates of alcohol and marijuana admissions have remained stable from 2000 to 2012. Cocaine/crack admissions have declined and admissions who abused heroin have increased over time. Conclusions: Treatment admissions stabilized following Hurricane Katrina; however, since 2009, they have begun to decline. Targeted exploration of factors affecting admission to treatment in New Orleans with populations such as the homeless, those with a psychiatric illness in addition to a substance abuse problem, and those referred by the criminal justice system is essential. The results of this study assist in identifying variations in substance abuse treatment characteristics for those admitted to treatment in New Orleans.
KW - Mental health
KW - New Orleans
KW - TEDS
KW - Treatment Episode Data Set
KW - hurricane Katrina
KW - substance abuse
KW - treatment
KW - trend analysis
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84979649679&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/10826084.2016.1188952
DO - 10.1080/10826084.2016.1188952
M3 - Article
C2 - 27459326
AN - SCOPUS:84979649679
SN - 1082-6084
VL - 51
SP - 1542
EP - 1554
JO - Substance Use and Misuse
JF - Substance Use and Misuse
IS - 12
ER -