HIV substance abusers encouraged to use new case management program. Study shows program works.

Abstract

A strength-based case management program for HIV-positive patients who are active substance abusers appears to have some success in directing some patients to HIV care and treatment, according to recent research. For about 15 years, Ohio behavioral scientists have used a strength-based case management model with substance abusers, having case managers meet with them over a nine month period with the purpose of improving their health care outcomes. What we found in summary is, indeed, case management did lead to better outcomes, including less involvement in criminal activity and lower levels of drug use, says Richard C. Rapp, MSW, assistant professor in the department of community health at School of Medicine, Wright State University in Dayton, OH. Rapp also is with the Center for Interventions, Treatment and Addiction Research (CITAR) in Dayton. "Case management seemed to help keep people in treatment, and longer treatment led to better outcomes," Rapp says. "So that's our rallying cry for case management." With encouragement from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) of Atlanta, GA, Rapp and co-investigators developed a model of strength-based case management that was studied in the antiretroviral treatment and access study (ARTAS), which ran from 2003 to 2004.