Journal of urban health : bulletin of the New York Academy of Medicine
-
Building on decades of Academy activities related to substance use, this report emphasizes three guiding principles: 1. Drug treatment should be accessible to all drug users seeking care, including those who are incarcerated. Because turning users away when programs are operating at or above capacity represents lost opportunities for care, programs should be prepared to commence treatment at the time users request it. 2. ⋯ Steps need to be taken to reduce the health-related harms associated with injection drug use, including the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B and C, and other blood-borne pathogens. Harm reduction incorporates many modalities, such as HIV prevention education, including condom use and safer sex counseling and education; referrals for drug treatment and other health care and social services; interim methadone maintenance; and syringe and needle availability and exchange programs. Each of these interventions represents important medical and public health strategies that may decrease some of the secondary medical consequences of injection drug use.
-
Developmental screening scores among preschool-aged children: the roles of poverty and child health.
To investigate, using a nationally representative sample of preschool-aged children, the relationship among poverty history, child health, and risk of an abnormal developmental screening score. ⋯ Poverty is the largest single predictor of an abnormal developmental screening score. The implications of inadequate medical care among poor children for the interpretation of individual screening scores and for amelioration of problems are also discussed.