Out of treatment drug and alcohol users in England: ‘Unmet Treatment Need’?

Title: Out of treatment drug and alcohol users in England: ‘Unmet Treatment Need’?

Charlie Lloyd 1, Bina Bhardwa 2, Tiggey May 2, Geoff Page1  and Andrew Papworth 1

1. University of York, UK.

2. Birkbeck College, London, UK.

Background

An influential report in the UK from Dame Carol Black has emphasised the ‘treatment gap’ between the estimated numbers of crack users, opioid users and dependent drinkers, and the number of such substance users in treatment. The assumption has been that those out-of-treatment users in this gap represent an ‘unmet need’ for drug treatment. 

Objectives

This paper will provide a brief discussion of what is meant by ‘unmet treatment need’ and discuss its meaning in the context of one the first substantial studies of out-of-treatment substance users in the UK. 

Methods

It will draw on in-depth semi-structured interviews with a sample of 80 ‘problem’ crack, opioid and alcohol users who have been out of treatment for at least a year.  

Findings

Analysis is currently underway and the resulting findings will be presented for the first time at the conference. However, the presentation will focus on pathways into vulnerability and the meaning of ‘treatment need’ in the context of the constellation of problems they face. The presentation will also foreground intersecting issues such as gender and mental health. 

Conclusions

Implications for policy and practice will be explored, in terms of holistic responses to out-of-treatment substance users.

Conference track: Open track or possibly prevention of risky and harmful behaviours.