Correlates of HIV Seropositivity Among Injection Drug Users Not in Treatment

• NCJ Number: 140164
• Journal: Journal of Drug Issues Volume: 22 Issue: 4 Dated: (Fall 1992) Pages: 849-866
• Author(s): M Y Iguchi; J J Platt; J French; R C Baxter; H Kushner; V M Lidz; D A Bux; M Rosen; H Musikoff
• Date Published: 1992
• Length: 18 pages
• Grant Number(s): R18-DA05286; R18-DA05289
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

Between May and December 1989, workers with the Health Behavior Project interviewed 1,440 intravenous drug users in Newark and Jersey City, New Jersey, who were not currently enrolled in a drug treatment program. The focus of the study was to collect data on HIV risk factors among intravenous drug users for the purpose of developing more effective interventions for this population.

Abstract

The variables examined in the study included drug use and sexual patterns, health, criminality, and demographic factors. Data from 1,278 of the original 1,440 subjects were analyzed and 52.5 percent of this subgroup tested positive for the HIV virus. Thirteen variables significantly and independently associated with seropositivity were identified using univariate and multivariate analyses. These variables included: years since first drug injection, injecting mixed heroin and cocaine, frequent injection of cocaine, no crack use, no noninjected heroin use, time in jail, inhalation of glue or paint thinner, absence of sexual activity, subjects' global rating of their own AIDS risk, health history, gender, race, and education. Future research on drug use practices and HIV risk factors should focus on the demographic characteristics and drug use patterns of the fellow addicts with whom an individual typically uses drugs. 5 tables and 36 references