The expanded scope of the Medicaid program has accomplished a great deal in bolstering substance use treatment, but further progress will depend on correcting deficiencies in non‐expansion states and within Medicaid managed care entities, a newly published commentary suggests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Last week, ADAW featured a published paper recommending that higher doses of buprenorphine be used in the era of fentanyl (see "ASAM recommends higher doses if needed for treatment with buprenorphine," ADAW, Jan. 7, 2024, https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/adaw.33984). The American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) did not have time to get back to us by deadline but did respond to our questions for this week's issue. Below are our questions, in italics, followed by their responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
*SUBSTANCE abuse treatment, *MENTAL illness treatment, *MEDICAL information storage & retrieval systems, *WOUNDS & injuries, *SEX crimes, *MENTAL health, *MENTAL health services, *RESEARCH funding, *CINAHL database, *PSYCHOLOGY of women, *DESCRIPTIVE statistics, *RACE, *SYSTEMATIC reviews, *MEDLINE, *RACISM, *MINORITIES, *TREATMENT programs, *DATA analysis software, *PATIENTS' attitudes, *PSYCHOLOGY information storage & retrieval systems
Abstract
The mental health and substance use treatment experiences of racially and ethnically minoritised women who have experienced sexual violence is not well understood. To address this we conducted a systematic review and meta‐synthesis of qualitative studies. Our search strategy included electronic searches of 18 databases and grey literature, citation tracking and reference list screening. Studies were eligible if they presented qualitative data from racially and/or ethnically minoritised women or girls, who had experienced sexual violence at any age and described their experiences of receiving treatment from statutory mental health and/or substance use services. Studies were analysed using meta‐ethnography. Fourteen papers based on 12 individual studies were included. Analysis developed three main themes: (1) understanding minoritised women holistically, (2) processing the trauma and beginning the healing and (3) the need for social connectedness and empowering relationships. For minoritised women to benefit from treatment, mental health and substance use services need to challenge the dynamics of the multiple traumas minoritised women experience. Knowledge and understanding of the racial trauma minoritised women experience is limited and many are subjected to further harm from racist practices occurring in some treatment services. Offering culturally safe, trauma‐informed care which promotes anti‐racist practices may help improve mental health and substance use service responses to minoritised women who have experienced sexual violence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]