Injection drug use among homeless adults with severe mental illness.
OBJECTIVE
This study examined injection drug use among homeless men and women with severe mental illness in two sites.


METHODS
The data were drawn from related clinical trials conducted in Baltimore (101 men, 49 women) and Boston (85 men, 33 women).


RESULTS
The percentages of homeless men with a history of injection drug use were 26% in Baltimore and 16% in Boston; the corresponding rates among homeless women were 8% and 6%.


CONCLUSIONS
Taken together, these and previous results suggest high lifetime prevalences of injection drug use-and associated risks of HIV transmission-in this elusive population.
Susser
E
E
New York State Psychiatric Institute, Columbia University, New York City 10032, USA.
Betne
P
P
Valencia
E
E
Goldfinger
S M
SM
Lehman
A F
AF
D000328:Adult; D015142:Baltimore / Q000453:epidemiology; D001900:Boston / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology