Gender, cocaine and during-treatment HIV risk reduction among injection opioid users in methadone maintenance.
HIV risk behavior was examined in relation to gender and cocaine use among a sample of 327 daily opioid users in methadone maintenance treatment. Women and cocaine users tended to be at higher risk than men and non-users prior to treatment entry. Significant reductions in both injection and sex-related risks occurred from intake to months 3 and 6 of treatment; HIV risks were also reduced among the subsample of clients who continued to inject drugs during treatment. The rate of HIV risk reduction was similar for both cocaine and non-cocaine users, but women had lower rates of risk reduction than men in terms of injecting with used equipment and number of sex partners. Measures of risk behavior at month 6 of treatment showed that women used 'dirty works' more often than men, and cocaine users injected more frequently and had more sex partners than non-cocaine users. Study outcomes highlight the need for specialized interventions targeting women and cocaine-using opioid addicts.
Camacho
L M
LM
Institute of Behavioral Research, Texas Christian University, TCU, Fort Worth 76129, USA.
Bartholomew
N G
NG
Joe
G W
GW
Cloud
M A
MA
Simpson
D D
DD
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003042:Cocaine; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009294:Narcotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*
D009294:Narcotics; D003042:Cocaine; D008691:Methadone