NCJ Number
161345
Journal
Substance Use and Misuse Volume: 31 Issue: 3 Dated: (February 1996) Pages: 277-301
Date Published
1996
Length
25 pages
Annotation
This article reports on the HIV risk behaviors of a sample of 158 heroin addicts admitted to the Los Angeles Enhanced Methadone Maintenance Project between 1990 and 1993.
Abstract
Assessment instruments were based on a modified version of the Natural History Interview developed by researchers at the University of California's Drug Abuse Research Center. Personal interviews were conducted and several psychological tests were administered to obtain information on polydrug use, alcohol use, depression, employment status, illegal activity, family history, sex abuse history, number of needle sharing partners, sex behavior, and time in treatment. Risk behaviors for HIV were associated with age, lack of education, ethnicity, relationship with a drug user, HIV status, higher scores on illegal activity measures, suicidality, depression, polydrug use, and alcohol use. Significant reductions in the number of male sex partners and needle sharing partners were reported at followup, although frequency of condom use did not change. The authors conclude that methadone maintenance programs need to screen women for risk factors and help them develop new behavioral skills in order to implement a harm reduction treatment approach. 44 references, 7 notes, and 8 tables