TY - JOUR
T1 - Drug abuse, risks of infectious diseases and service utilization among Former Soviet Union immigrants
T2 - A view from New York City
AU - Isralowitz, Richard E.
AU - Straussner, Shulamith L.A.
AU - Rosenblum, Andrew
N1 - Funding Information:
Richard E. Isralowitz is affiliated with the Department of Social Work, Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva, Israel 84105 (E-mail: [email protected]). Shulamith L.A. Straussner is affiliated with the School of Social Work, New York University, 1 Washington Square North, New York, NY 10003. Andrew Rosenblum is affiliated with the Institute for Treatment and Services Research, National Development and Research Institutes, Inc., 71 West 23rd Street, 8th floor, New York, NY 10010. Address correspondence to: Richard E. Isralowitz, PhD, Department of Social Work, Ben Gurion University, Beer Sheva, Israel 84105 (E-Mail: [email protected]). The authors gratefully acknowledge support and advice from Sherry Deren, PhD, Herman Joseph, PhD, John Galea, MA, and Sy Demsky. This research was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, International Program–Distinguished International Scientist Award.
PY - 2006/3/8
Y1 - 2006/3/8
N2 - Based on the high rates of injection drug use and infectious disease such as HIV, HCV and tuberculosis in their home country, immigrants from the Former Soviet Union (FSU) comprise a high-risk population in the United States. Yet, little is known about their drug abuse and health problems relative to other immigrant populations like Hispanics. The objectives of this exploratory study were to identify disease risk behavior, and utilization of and barriers to treatment services among drug using immigrants from the FSU. Focused interviews were conducted with 27 public officials and administrators in New York City. This study found that FSU immigrants tend to have culturally unique drug abuse patterns and behavior, such as rapid transition to injection drug use, and suspicion and avoidance of traditional drug treatment approaches. The findings of this exploratory study point to the need for further research and the need to take immediate steps to promote culturally appropriate treatment and prevention services that can address the spread of harmful behavior that threatens the public health of FSU immigrants and others.
AB - Based on the high rates of injection drug use and infectious disease such as HIV, HCV and tuberculosis in their home country, immigrants from the Former Soviet Union (FSU) comprise a high-risk population in the United States. Yet, little is known about their drug abuse and health problems relative to other immigrant populations like Hispanics. The objectives of this exploratory study were to identify disease risk behavior, and utilization of and barriers to treatment services among drug using immigrants from the FSU. Focused interviews were conducted with 27 public officials and administrators in New York City. This study found that FSU immigrants tend to have culturally unique drug abuse patterns and behavior, such as rapid transition to injection drug use, and suspicion and avoidance of traditional drug treatment approaches. The findings of this exploratory study point to the need for further research and the need to take immediate steps to promote culturally appropriate treatment and prevention services that can address the spread of harmful behavior that threatens the public health of FSU immigrants and others.
KW - Drug abuse
KW - Former Soviet Union
KW - Immigrants
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33746806820&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1300/J233v05n01_06
DO - 10.1300/J233v05n01_06
M3 - Article
C2 - 16537339
AN - SCOPUS:33746806820
SN - 1533-2640
VL - 5
SP - 91
EP - 96
JO - Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse
JF - Journal of Ethnicity in Substance Abuse
IS - 1
ER -