A CLINICAL-SAMPLE OF MAORI BEING TREATED FOR ALCOHOL AND DRUG PROBLEMS IN NEW-ZEALAND

Aims. To document key clinical characteristics of a group of Maori bei ng treated for alcohol and drug problems; compare the characteristics of Maori accessing dedicated Maori alcohol and drug treatment services with Maori accessing non-dedicated services; and investigate these cl inical characteristics in relation to patient satisfaction. Methods. A sample of 105 Maori with alcohol and drug problems, accessing the ran ge of treatment services in the Canterbury area, undertook a semi-stru ctured interview. Results. Overall this sample of Maori were socially disadvantaged. Their main drug of use was alcohol, followed by cannabi s, opioids and sedatives/hypnotics. There were no significant differen ces between the subjects who attended Maori dedicated services and tho se who attended non-dedicated Maori services in terms of demographic v ariables, alcohol and drug use history, current level of dependence, o r anxiety/depression state. Subjects in dedicated Maori services were more likely to have had greater than 21 days of treatment compared to those in non-dedicated Maori services and were more likely to have bee n to their home marae than those in nondedicated services. In multivar iate analysis, Maori in dedicated Maori services were significantly mo re likely to be satisfied with treatment than those in non-dedicated s ervices (odds ratio = 5.5, 95% confidence interval = 1.81 - 16.78). Co nclusion. Further research is required to investigate the relationship between high patient satisfaction by Maori with alcohol and drug prob lems attending dedicated Maori treatment services, treatment effective ness and the components of dedicated Maori services that may contribut e to higher retention rates, greater patient satisfaction and increase d positive treatment outcome.