Unmet treatment needs of drug users in Alaska: correlates and societal costs

This study assessed the unmet treatment needs of drug users in Anchorage, Alaska. It revealed that almost half of the drug users who desire treatment cannot secure it, largely for external reasons. The primary barrier to treatment was lack of availability of treatment slots, followed by excessive treatment costs and restrictive admission criteria. Unlike other studies, this investigation did not suggest that members of ethnic minority groups, women, and parenting women were disproportionately disadvantaged with regard to ability to secure treatment. However, substance abusers who also met criteria for a co-morbid psychiatric diagnosis other than substance abuse or dependence had more difficulty than their non-co-morbid peers in finding available treatment slots. Social, legal, and medical costs incurred by unsuccessful treatment seekers are outlined and suggest significant cost, as well as perpetuation of intergenerational cycles of violence and substance use.