University of Missouri-St. Louis, 1 University Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63121, United States of America.
Missouri Institute of Mental Health, 1 University Blvd., St. Louis, MO 63121, United States of America.
J Subst Abuse Treat. 2022 Dec;143:108897. doi: 10.1016/j.jsat.2022.108897. Epub 2022 Oct 5.
Understanding substance use and treatment needs for survivors of human trafficking remains an underdeveloped area in the field of substance use treatment. This study assessed the nature of substance use among survivors of all types of human trafficking and identified treatment barriers and needs, as reported by human trafficking service providers in one Midwest major metropolitan area.
Participants were purposively selected from agencies that served foreign-born and domestic-born survivors of human trafficking. The study interviewed fifteen key informants across 13 agencies directly serving survivors of trafficking.
Providers highlighted frequent use of alcohol and marijuana, as well as polysubstance use. They noted survivors' significant use of opioids, associated concerns regarding fentanyl-related deaths, and increased frequency of stimulant use. Barriers for addressing substance use problems with survivors included low self-perceptions of need, lack of available residential or inpatient treatment options, and prioritizing basic needs such as housing over substance use treatment.
Results underscore how broader trends in substance use and overdose in a region can mirror substance use patterns and treatment needs of human trafficking survivors. Further, a need exists for broader substance use screening and low-barrier referral services to address emergent needs of survivors of trafficking.
理解人口贩运幸存者的物质使用和治疗需求仍然是物质使用治疗领域一个欠发达的领域。本研究评估了来自中西部一个主要大都市区的人口贩运服务提供者报告的所有类型人口贩运幸存者的物质使用情况，并确定了治疗障碍和需求。
参与者是从服务于人口贩运外国出生和国内出生幸存者的机构中有意选择的。该研究采访了 13 个直接服务于人口贩运幸存者的机构中的 15 名主要知情人。
提供者强调了酒精和大麻的频繁使用，以及多种物质的使用。他们注意到幸存者大量使用阿片类药物，与芬太尼相关死亡有关的相关问题，以及兴奋剂使用频率的增加。解决幸存者物质使用问题的障碍包括自我需求认知低、可用的住院或住院治疗选择缺乏，以及将住房等基本需求置于物质使用治疗之上。
结果强调了该地区物质使用和过量的更广泛趋势如何反映人口贩运幸存者的物质使用模式和治疗需求。此外，还需要更广泛的物质使用筛查和低障碍转介服务，以满足人口贩运幸存者的紧急需求。
