Need for specialty addiction clinic services: Findings from a newly established addiction medicine clinic

Objectives Substance use disorders (SUDs) are increasingly prevalent in India and associated with substantial treatment gap. Enhancing accessibility of addiction services and tailoring them to the needs of target populations are critical strategies for bridging this gap. The specialized Addiction Medicine Clinics (AMCs) have the potential to facilitate treatment-seeking, mitigate stigma, and improve the quality of addiction care. The current retrospective data analysis was done to highlight need for such AMCs in the region at tertiary care centers. Material and Methods The present study examined service utilization during the initial four months of a newly established weekly AMC in a tertiary care Hospital in Uttar Pradesh. The AMC operates every Thursday, providing both outpatient and inpatient services. A retrospective analysis was conducted on data from 125 patients who attended the clinic during this period. Results The study found a substantial number of patients attending the clinic during the initial 4 months following its establishment. There were approximately equal proportions of new and follow-up consultations, indicating good retention. Most patients were men aged 25-59 years, predominantly from the district where the institute is located, with a smaller proportion from adjacent districts. Alcohol (51.2%) and tobacco (58.5%) were the most frequently reported substances for which treatment was sought, followed by opioids (40.8%) and cannabis (16%). Conclusion These findings suggest that the establishment of an AMC is a feasible approach to improving access to treatment for SUDs. Nonetheless, the very low representation of women among treatment seekers underscores the need to consider gender-specific interventions, including dedicated services for women with SUDs.