AIDS-Related Risk Behavior, Polydrug Use and Temazepam

• NCJ Number: 131642
• Journal: British Journal of Addiction Volume: 85 Issue: 9 Dated: (September 1990) Pages: 1125-1132
• Author(s): H Klee; J Faugier; C Hayes; T Boulton; J Morris
• Date Published: 1990
• Length: 8 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Best Practice/State-of-the-Art Review
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom

Annotation

Multiple drug use and the use of temazepam in northwest England are associated with behavior that could increase exposure to HIV infection.

Abstract

In this study it was found that 90 percent of the injecting drug users were polydrug users, and 28 percent were using temazepam. A third of all polydrug users had regularly used more than three drugs in addition to their preferred drug in the previous year. There were significant associations found between polydrug use, the use of temazepam, and the sharing of injecting equipment. Temazepam use was also associated with the reported incidence of casual sexual contacts. Data indicate that users of temazepam are not only risking damage to their cognitive functioning (i.e., memory loss), but they are also risking HIV infection through sharing injecting equipment and unprotected sexual intercourse. 11 tables and 4 references (Author abstract modified)