Characteristics of a Treatment-Seeking Population in Outpatient Addiction Treatment Centers in Mexico

Abstract

Background: Baseline patients’ characteristics are critical for treatment planning, as these can be moderators of treatment effects. In Mexico, information on treatment seekers with substance use disorders is scarce and limited to demographic characteristics. Objective: This paper presents and analyses demographic characteristics, substance use related problems, clinical features, and addiction severity in a sample of treatment seekers from the first multi-site randomized clinical trial implemented in the Mexican Clinical Trials Network on Addiction and Mental Health. Methods: A total of 120 participants were assessed prior randomization. Chi square or F-tests were used to compare sites across variables. Spearman correlation was used to associate negative consequences of substance use and motivation to change. Results: The majority of participants were men, and the most prevalent substances reported were alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine. Participants were predominantly on the contemplation or action stage of change, and this was correlated with the perception of the negative consequences associated with substance use. Participants reported a high prevalence of substance use related problems. Conclusions: Substance use related problems, clinical features, and addiction severity reported by treatment seekers are important characteristics to take into account when planning treatment as they facilitate tailoring treatment to meet patients’ needs.

Keywords :

• Treatment seekers
• outpatient treatment
• substance use disorders
• addiction severity

THE AUTHORS

Rodrigo Marín-Navarrete, Ph.D., is a Principal Investigator of the Clinical Trials Unit on Addiction and Mental Health in the National Institute of Psychiatry Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz (Mexico). Areas of Research: co-occurring disorders, behavioral and pharmacological clinical trials and clinical services evaluation.

Liliana Templos-Nuñez, M.Sc., currently works as an Assistant Researcher in the Clinical Trials Unit on Addiction and Mental Health of the National Institute of Psychiatry Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz (Mexico). Areas of Research: substance abuse, craving, motivational interviewing, alcohol expectancies, clinical trials and family coping strategies towards substance use.

Angélica Eliosa-Hern´ndez, M.Sc., is an Assistant Researcher in the Clinical Trials Unit on Addiction and Mental Health in the National Institute of Psychiatry Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz (Mexico). Areas of Research: substance use and mental health.

Luis Villalobos Gallegos, M.Sc., currently works as an Associate Researcher in the Clinical Trials Unit on Addiction and Mental Health of the National Institute of Psychiatry Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz (Mexico). Areas of Research: co-occurring disorders, measurement in psychology, and behavioral treatments for mental disorders.

José Fernández-Mondragón, B.Sc., is an Associate Researcher and coordinator of implementation at the Clinical Trials Unit on Addiction and Mental Health of the National Institute of Psychiatry Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz (Mexico). Areas of Research: development and validation of evidence-based clinical practices on mental health care and improvement of community care resources.

Alejandro Pérez López, M.Sc., is an Assistant Researcher at the Clinical Trials Unit on Addiction and Mental Health of the National Institute of Psychiatry Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz (Mexico). Areas of Research: substance abuse and mental health.

Diana Galvan-Sosa, B.Eng., is a Data Management Assistant at the Clinical Trials Unit on Addiction and Mental Health of the National Institute of Psychiatry Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz (Mexico).

Rosa E. Verdeja, M.Ed., is a Senior Research Associate-3 in the Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Areas of research: Has coordinated and managed research projects with vulnerable, substance abuse, and risk of HIV populations. Served as the project director for training and mentoring the National Institute of Psychiatry in Mexico to develop the research infrastructure and technological capabilities to conduct effectiveness drug abuse treatment clinical trials with the technology used in NIDA's National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network.

Elizabeth Alonso, Ph.D., CCRA is Director of Quality at the Department of Public Health Sciences at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. She has over 10 years of experience in clinical trial implementation and quality monitoring, and provides consultation and training in the areas of Good Clinical Practices, Quality Control/ Assurance, and research ethics. Areas of research: substance abuse, HIV, research technology transfer.

Daniel Feaster, Ph.D., is Associate Professor, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Division of Biostatistics at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Feaster's research interests include Statistical Methods for Clinical Trials and Effectiveness Research, Multilevel modeling, Structural Equations Modeling, Family-based health-related interventions, Drug Abuse, HIV/AIDS, and minority health disparities. Areas of Research: HIV/AIDS, Families/Adolescents, Biostatistics.

Viviana Horigian, M.D., is Research Assistant Professor of Public Health Sciences, at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine. She is the Executive Director of the Florida Node Alliance, one of the 13 centers of the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network, supported by NIDA. With her extensive clinical trials experience, she is the PI for a federally funded grant from the US Department of State to train and mentor the National Institute of Psychiatry in Mexico to develop the research infrastructure and technological capabilities to conduct effectiveness drug abuse treatment clinical trials with the technology used in NIDA's National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trials Network.