BURLINGTON, Vt. – Vermont is starting a significant study aimed at understanding the challenges people with substance use disorders face when accessing healthcare.
This multimillion-dollar project will survey 400 individuals who use drugs through various methods, such as injecting and inhaling. These participants will provide insights into their drug use and the healthcare services they receive. Over the next five years, they will be compensated for their involvement.
Devika Singh from the Larner College of Medicine highlights the study’s focus: understanding what stops people from getting addiction treatment. “What factors hinder their access to these vital services?” she asks.
Singh and Jessica Kirby, an advocate from Vermonters for Criminal Justice Reform, are leading this effort. Kirby emphasizes the issues many of their clients face, including high rates of Hepatitis C and difficulties related to drug use, such as homelessness and stigma. She points out that practical obstacles like transportation, lack of a phone, or fear of judgment often keep people from seeking care.
Singh adds another layer, suggesting that social issues—like poverty and racism—may play significant roles in healthcare access. “We might uncover how these broader factors affect people’s ability to seek help,” she notes.
The study has caught the attention of major institutions, too. The National Institute on Drug Abuse is investing $12 million in this research collaboration among the University of Vermont, Brown University, and the University of California at San Diego. This initiative is essential, especially as substance use continues to rise across the country. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, over 100,000 people died from drug overdoses in the U.S. in a single year, highlighting the urgent need for effective treatment strategies.
As the research unfolds this spring, there’s hope that it will shed light on the real barriers to care and inform better programs in the future. Understanding these challenges might pave the way for innovative solutions that increase healthcare accessibility for those who need it most.
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