English and American Drug Clients' Views of the Acceptability, Advantages, and Disadvantages of Treatment and Harm Reduction Interventions

Abstract

Although drug abusers present to clinics and drop-in centers requesting various treatments and harm reduction interventions, clinicians and administrators have little direct empirical evidence of the degree to which clients find various therapies acceptable or the perceived advantages and disadvantages of specific interventions. A structured interview was administered to 48 male and female outpatient or detoxification ward clients in Nottingham, England, and 40 female residential treatment program clients in Northwest Ohio, to assess the acceptability of and related attitudes regarding a broad range of interventions. Large proportions of respondents in both samples, and especially in the English sample, reported somewhat or complete acceptance of various abstinence-oriented treatments and harm reduction interventions for those still taking drugs. Respondents also discriminated among these interventions, as evidenced by differing levels of acceptance of many and outright rejection of other interventions. Although there were differences in acceptance and experience of the specific interventions between the two samples, respondents in both countries provided balanced appraisals of the advantages and disadvantages of each intervention.