TY - JOUR
T1 - Immigrants from russia, ukraine and the caucasus region
T2 - Differential drug use, infectious disease, and related outcomes
AU - Isralowitz, Richard
AU - Reznik, Alexander
AU - Rawson, Richard A.
AU - Hasson, Albert
N1 - Funding Information:
Acknowledgements This study was funded by a grant from the US Agency for International Development, Middle East Regional Cooperation Program (MERC) (TA-MOU-02-M23-010). MERC is a research and development activity of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Gratitude is extended to the numerous individuals and organizations who participated in this initiative, including the Israel Ministry of Social Affairs, National Services for the Treatment of Addiction Drug Treatment Services; the Ministry of Health, Department for the Treatment of Addictions; the University of California, Los Angeles Integrated Substance Abuse Programs; the Treatment Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA., and; drug treatment personnel and clients. Appreciation is extended to Dr. Evgeny Krupitsky of Leningrad Regional Center of Addictions for sharing information and Russian-language materials that were used for this study.
PY - 2009/7/1
Y1 - 2009/7/1
N2 - This study examined drug use patterns, HIV/AIDS, and related outcomes among former Soviet Union (FSU) immigrants from Russia, Ukraine and the Caucasus mountain region in Israel who reported heroin use. A total of 253 FSU heroin users were interviewed from 2002 to 2007 as part of a large drug use surveillance study in Israel. Individuals were sampled at drug treatment facilities in an urban population center of the Negev region of Israel. Participants were assessed using the Addiction Severity Index, fifth edition. First, immigrants from Russia and Ukraine were compared; then, as a group, compared to those from the Caucasus region. Overall, ASI composite scores suggested comparable levels of addiction severity between the Russian and Ukrainian groups. However, Kavkaz immigrants are older, less likely to be employed, and have more severe scores on many of the drug use measures as compared to the other two nationalities. This study shows different drug use patterns exist among FSU immigrants. Such differences may be, in part, due to socioeconomic, geographic and other sociodemographic factors. Injection drug use, regardless of country/region of origin is a critical public health problem, especially given the link between injection drug use and infectious disease.
AB - This study examined drug use patterns, HIV/AIDS, and related outcomes among former Soviet Union (FSU) immigrants from Russia, Ukraine and the Caucasus mountain region in Israel who reported heroin use. A total of 253 FSU heroin users were interviewed from 2002 to 2007 as part of a large drug use surveillance study in Israel. Individuals were sampled at drug treatment facilities in an urban population center of the Negev region of Israel. Participants were assessed using the Addiction Severity Index, fifth edition. First, immigrants from Russia and Ukraine were compared; then, as a group, compared to those from the Caucasus region. Overall, ASI composite scores suggested comparable levels of addiction severity between the Russian and Ukrainian groups. However, Kavkaz immigrants are older, less likely to be employed, and have more severe scores on many of the drug use measures as compared to the other two nationalities. This study shows different drug use patterns exist among FSU immigrants. Such differences may be, in part, due to socioeconomic, geographic and other sociodemographic factors. Injection drug use, regardless of country/region of origin is a critical public health problem, especially given the link between injection drug use and infectious disease.
KW - Drug use patterns
KW - HIV/AIDSFSU immigrants
KW - Infectious diseases
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=67650812814&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s11469-009-9207-3
DO - 10.1007/s11469-009-9207-3
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:67650812814
SN - 1557-1874
VL - 7
SP - 450
EP - 457
JO - International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
JF - International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
IS - 3
ER -
