Table 2 Barriers to treatment (n = 206)

Fragmented services (single item)

–

2.51

Services are fragmented

60 (29.1%)

146 (70.9%)

2.51

1.180

Stigma and discrimination in the community

.756

2.26

0.681

The community looks down upon people using substances

37 (17.9%)

169 (82%)

2.30

0.887

People blame us for our condition. They say it is our own fault

38 (18.4%)

168 (81.5%)

2.25

0.879

People using substances are regarded as worthless

39 (18.9%)

167 (81.1%)

2.25

0.918

The police abuse their power by ill-treating people using substances

42 (20.3%)

164 (79.6%)

2.24

0.889

Information gap

.697

1.92

0.845

The police lack information about treatment services so you can be unfairly arrested.

54 (26.2%)

152 (73.8%)

2.06

1.089

I didn’t know where to go for help

58 (28.2%)

148 (71.8%)

1.94

1.025

I didn’t know there is help available

74 (36%)

132 (64%)

1.77

1.096

Labelling and rejection in the community

.796

1.66

0.801

We feel not accepted across many different places and settings.

49 (23.8%)

157 (76.2%)

2.04

0.920

I feared the shame and embarrassment of being called names.

74 (35.9%)

132 (64.1%)

1.82

1.092

I feared losing my identity by being viewed as an outcast.

77 (37.4%)

129 (62.6%)

1.76

1.076

I was afraid the community would isolate me

95 (46.1%)

111(53.9%)

1.50

1.112

Healthcare workers mistreat people using substances

128(62.1%)

78 (37.9%)

1.17

1.181

Lack of perceived treatment efficacy

.661

1.50

0.759

Substance use treatment does not help

86 (41.7%)

120 (58.3%)

1.73

1.114

Our families encourage us to seek help from pastors and religious leaders

88 (42.7%)

118 (57.3%)

1.65

1.137

Churches provide better services

95 (46.1%)

111 (53.9%)

1.58

1.165

I didn’t think treatment would do any good

101 (49%)

105 (51%)

1.52

1.200

Treatment does not work

132(64.1%)

74 (35.9%)

1.04

1.207

Privacy concerns

.628

1.46

0.824

I thought I could handle it on my own and did not want people to know what I was going through.

81 (39.3%)

125 (60.7%)

1.69

1.137

I didn’t want to talk about my personal life with other people.

94 (45.6%)

112 (54.4%)

1.24

1.101

Lack of resources and support

.681

1.43

0.860

I don’t get moral support from my family for treatment

76 (36.9)

130 (63.1%)

1.69

1.086

Substance use healthcare sites are too few and far from where I stay

112(54.4%)

94 (45.6%)

1.37

1.152

Substance use health care sites lack enough health care workers

117(56.8%)

89 (43.2%)

1.24

1.135

Denial, not ready to give up

.712

1.31

0.908

My substance use seemed fairly normal to me

107(51.9%)

99 (48.1%)

1.39

1.129

I didn’t think I needed any help

116(56.3%)

90 (43.7%)

1.26

1.126

I liked using substances and was not ready to give up

119(57.8%)

87 (42.2%)

1.26

1.164