title: Change in drug-using networks of injecting drug users during methadone treatment: a pilot study using snowball recruitment and intensive interviews.
abstract: This pilot study used snowball recruitment methods and intensive interviews to assess personal drug-using networks and HIV risk behavior of injection drug users (IDUs). Index subjects were 22 methadone maintenance patients reporting current drug injection who were interviewed about personal drug-using networks both current and prior to treatment entry. The index subjects were then asked to recruit other network members to the study. Ninety-seven network members were identified and 40 interviewed, including 18 not in treatment. Index IDUs reported fewer co-IDUs for the treatment period than the pretreatment period, suggesting a reduction in risk of exposure to HIV. The combination of snowball recruitment and intensive interview procedures constitutes a useful method for studying IDU networks.
authors.affiliation: University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Willems
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Iguchi
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lidz
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Bux
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009515:New Jersey; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D018579:Patient Selection; D015143:Philadelphia; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012933:Social Identification; D012944:Social Support; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation*
chemical_list: D008691:Methadone