The Impact of Drugs on Barriers to Mental Health Treatment

• In Event: Exploring Theory and Method in Substance Use Research

Abstract

Mental health issues are a significant problem impacting many, especially individuals with substance use disorders. Although many suffer from mental health conditions, there are a multitude of barriers to mental health treatment that prevent individuals from seeking care. While prior research has established a connection between substance use and mental health issues, it is possible that various forms of drug use differentially impact barriers to mental health treatment due to factors such as stigma, cost of treatment, attitude towards treatment, and structural limitations. Unfortunately, research has yet to examine how various types of drugs use are associated with barriers to mental health treatment. The current study will use data from the 2022 and 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) and logistic regression techniques to investigate how seven types of drug use are associated with four categories of barriers to mental health treatment. As mental health issues are quite prevalent, it is crucial to better understand the factors that prevent individuals from seeking treatment in order to develop better treatment options.

Authors

• Kelsi Moscrop-Blake, Sam Houston State University

• Wanda E. Leal, Sam Houston State University