The Discrimination Against, Health Status and Wellness of People Who Use Drugs in Italian Services: A Survey

• Main Authors: Concetta Paola Pelullo, Fabio Curcio, Francesco Auriemma, Giuseppe Cefalo, Antonio Fabozzi, Riccardo Rossiello, Laura Spagnoli, Francesco Attena
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2019-09-01
• Series: Medicina
• Subjects: discrimination; health status; people who use drug; stigma; wellness
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/1010-660X/55/10/662

<i>Background and Objectives:</i> The aims of this study are to: describe the sociodemographic characteristics and typology of drug addiction among people who use drugs that attend the Servizio per le Dipendenze (SerD), and evaluate the competence and ability of these rehabilitation services to improve their health status and wellness. <i>Materials and Methods:</i> A cross-sectional study was conducted from January to July 2017. Patients attending two selected SerD facilities in the city of Naples, Italy were interviewed with a questionnaire gathering information on sociodemographic data, characteristics of drug addiction, characteristics of enrolment at the SerD, self-reported health status and wellness, and reports of the discrimination suffered. <i>Results:</i> Among the 451 people interviewed, 72.3% had started taking drugs by the age of 20, and half of them have used drugs within the last year. 54.5% of responders attended SerD for more than 10 years, and the two main reasons for attendance were to get help and to get methadone. 79.4% were declared to have a good/very good/excellent health status at the time of interviewing. 53.7% reported suffering from discrimination. <i>Conclusions:</i> Based on our study, discrimination is higher in participants who attended SerD for more than one year, who were formerly in prison, or who were current drug users.