Health status and service utilization among young injection drug users

Young injection drug users (IDUs) with histories of homelessness frequently experience health problems associated with their high-risk lifestyles, including injury, sexually transmitted infections (STI), pregnancy, and depression. Previous research suggests young IDUs have less access to treatment than other youth populations. Yet, there is limited data concerning how young IDUs manage health issues and the contexts in which they seek treatment. Data presented are drawn from a two-year longitudinal study in Los Angeles. A total of 56 IDUs, aged 16-29 years, were interviewed about their overall health status, recent health problems, service utilization, and history of hospitalization. While the majority rated their overall health as ‘good,' preliminary data shows many reported recent health problems in the following areas: dental (62.5%); mental health (48.2%); vision (42.9%); non-injection related skin infections (35.7%); injection-related abscesses (19.6%); hearing (14.3%); and STI (5.4%). During the past year, half (50%) visited a free health clinic, and over one-third (35.7%) sought treatment from a hospital emergency department. Less than one-fifth (17.9%) reported visiting a private physician in the past year, however, nearly forty-five percent (44.6%) encountered medical professionals while incarcerated. Furthermore, nearly half (48.2%) reported at least one overnight hospital stay occurring after the age of twelve. Overall, while many young IDUs perceived themselves to be in ‘good' health, they experienced a range of health problems. Moreover, these findings suggest a disparity between healthcare needs and service utilization among this population. Additional qualitative data will contextualize the nature of their reported health problems and subsequent treatment utilization.