Financial Capability in Addiction Research and Clinical Practice.

Background:Substance use disorders (SUDs) impact everything about an individual's life-health, family, employment, education, housing, transportation, and finances. By the time individuals with SUDs begin treatment-especially in publicly funded programs-most have few financial resources. Many have resorted to property crimes, resulting in fines, fees, and restitution costs that compound their financial difficulties. Reestablishing financial functioning is key to recovering from the consequences of addiction. Yet access to cash may also trigger relapses-especially in early recovery. Objective: This paper reports initial results from studies exploring how clients in treatment for SUDs manage their financial responsibilities, assessing their financial capability both in terms of access to financial services and personal financial literacy. Method: Using data collected between June 2017 and October 2019 from almost 5,000 SUD clients as they entered treatment as well as a financial needs assessment study of 70 clients during treatment, we conducted Chi-square testing and logistic regressions to analyze the relationships between client characteristics and financial capability. Results: Our results indicated that over 50% of individuals in addiction treatment did not have access to accounts at insured financial institutions, and that clients' ages and education levels were significantly related to their financial capability. We also found that 78% of clients feel that money management skills are important to their recovery. Conclusions: Many SUD clients in recovery have limited financial capability, and they are interested in developing financial skills. Increasing client financial capability may be an underemphasized, yet important part of recovery capital.

Epidemiology of hookworm infection in Kintampo North Municipality, Ghana: patterns of malaria coinfection, anemia, and albendazole treatment failure.

A cross-sectional pilot study of hookworm infection was carried out among 292 subjects from 62 households in Kintampo North, Ghana. The overall prevalence of hookworm infection was 45%, peaking in those 11-20 years old (58.5%). In children, risk factors for hookworm infection included coinfection with malaria and increased serum immunoglobulin G reactivity to hookworm secretory antigens. Risk factors for infection in adults included poor nutritional status, not using a latrine, not wearing shoes, and occupation (farming). Although albendazole therapy was associated with an overall egg reduction rate of 82%, 37 subjects (39%) remained infected. Among those who failed therapy, treatment was not associated with a significant reduction in egg excretion, and nearly one-third had higher counts on repeat examination. These data confirm a high prevalence of low-intensity hookworm infection in central Ghana and its association with poor nutritional status. The high rate of albendazole failure raises concern about emerging resistance.