Primary care services for problem drug users
This conclusion seems to be supported by their data, derived from a questionnaire survey to which 52% of the 157 GPs in one London area responded. Geographically, service provision for problem drug users varies considerably throughout the UK. The same is true in London. In many areas, the level of GP involvement is considerably higher than Deehan et aVs data suggest. Zyrtec allergies
A recent London survey of over 200 female drug injectors, of whom 82% were recruited in the community rather than in treatment settings, showed three interesting things (Hunter GM, Judd A. Women injecting drug users in London: the extent and nature of their contact with drug and health services. Submitted to Drug and Alcohol Review, 1997). First, the majority of participants were in contact with services in relation to their drug use; secondly, among those who were not, lack of perceived need for services rather than a perception of service inaccessibility was cited as the principal reason; and thirdly, the main service used was general practice. Singulair 5mg
Outside London, the evidence suggests that GPs are the principal service providers in contact with problem drug users either through ’shared care’ arrangements with specialist services or exclusively in primary care where these services don’t exist. A survey of 341 GPs in Manchester achieved a 79% response. It showed a much higher level of contact between GPs and drug users than in Deehan et aFs study. Sixty-five per cent of GPs who responded stated a desire for extra training in this area. Cetirizine 5mg
Several things are clear. The first is that being prepared to work with problem drug users varies among GPs for a variety of reasons. Despite this, general practice is currently the mainstay of the service response to problem drug use throughout the UK and, because of the numbers involved, is likely to remain so. Apart from a perceived lack of specialist knowledge, a barrier to further GP involvement is probably scepticism as to the effectiveness of the interventions involved. Such evidence that exists derives almost exclusively from non-UK, non-primary care settings. Clearly, this is a deficiency and points to an area where further work is needed. Montelukast asthma