Disparities in the Use and Quality of Alcohol Treatment Services and Some Proposed Solutions to Narrow the Gap Nina Mulia, Dr.P.H. Tammy W. Tam, Ph.D. Laura A. Schmidt, Ph.D.
Objectives: This study assessed racial-ethnic disparities in access to highquality treatment for at-risk drinking and alcohol abuse in the United States and simulated strategies to narrow the gap. Methods: Longitudinal data collected in 2001–2002 and 2004–2005 from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions were analyzed to examine racial-ethnic disparities in receipt of alcohol interventions that were provided in primary care and specialty treatment settings and that met published clinical guidelines. The sample consisted of 9,116 respondents who met criteria for at-risk drinking or alcohol abuse in 2001–2002. Simulation analyses projected how disparities in treatment services utilization might change if clinical guidelines promoted access to care in more varied health and human service settings. Results: Compared with whites, members of racial-ethnic minority groups had less than two-thirds the odds of receiving an alcohol intervention over the roughly four-year study period (odds ratio [OR]=.62, p
Objectives: This study assessed racial-ethnic disparities in access to highquality treatment for at-risk drinking and alcohol abuse in the United States and simulated strategies to narrow the gap. Methods: Longitudinal data collected in 2001–2002 and 2004–2005 from the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions were analyzed to examine racial-ethnic disparities in receipt of alcohol interventions that were provided in primary care and specialty treatment settings and that met published clinical guidelines. The sample consisted of 9,116 respondents who met criteria for at-risk drinking or alcohol abuse in 2001–2002. Simulation analyses projected how disparities in treatment services utilization might change if clinical guidelines promoted access to care in more varied health and human service settings. Results: Compared with whites, members of racial-ethnic minority groups had less than two-thirds the odds of receiving an alcohol intervention over the roughly four-year study period (odds ratio [OR]=.62, p
