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On-site primary care and mental health services in outpatient drug abuse treatment units

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Abstract

Providing health services to drug abuse treatment clients improves their outcomes. Using data from a 1995 national survey of 597 outpatient drug abuse treatment units, this article examines the relationship between these units' organizational features and the degree to which they provided onsite primary care and mental health services. In two-stage models, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations-certified and methadone programs delivered more on-site primary care services. Units affiliated with mental health centers provided more on-site mental health services but less direct medical care. Units with more dual-diagnosis clients provided more on-site mental health but fewer on-site HIV/AIDS treatment services. Organizational features appear to influence the degree to which health services are incorporated into drug abuse treatment. Fully integrated care might be an unattainable ideal for many such organizations, but quality improvement across the treatment system might increase the reliability of clients' access to health services.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of General Internal Medicine, University of Chicago, 5841 South Maryland Avenue (MC2007), 60637, Chicago, IL

    Peter D. Friedmann M.D., M.P.H. (Assistant Professor of Medicine)

  2. the School of Public Health, University of Michigan, USA

    Jeffrey A. Alexander Ph.D. (professor of health management and policy)

  3. Section of General Internal Medicine, University of Chicago, USA

    Lei Jin M.A. (senior programmer analyst)

  4. the University of Chicago, USA

    Thomas A. D'Aunno Ph.D. (associate professor of social service administration and health studies)

Authors
  1. Peter D. Friedmann M.D., M.P.H.
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  2. Jeffrey A. Alexander Ph.D.
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  3. Lei Jin M.A.
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  4. Thomas A. D'Aunno Ph.D.
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Correspondence to Peter D. Friedmann M.D., M.P.H..

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Friedmann, P.D., Alexander, J.A., Jin, L. et al. On-site primary care and mental health services in outpatient drug abuse treatment units. The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research 26, 80–94 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02287796

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