A randomized clinical trial of a manual-guided risk reduction intervention for HIV-positive injection drug users.
This study randomized 90 HIV-seropositive, methadone-maintained injection drug users (IDUs) to an HIV Harm Reduction Program (HHRP+) or to an active control that included harm reduction components recommended by the National AIDS Demonstration Research Project. The treatment phase lasted 6 months, with follow-ups at 6 and 9 months after treatment entry. Patients in both treatments showed reductions in risk behaviors. However, patients assigned to HHRP+ were less likely to use illicit opiates and were more likely to adhere to antiretroviral medications during treatment; at follow-up, they had lower addiction severity scores and were less likely to have engaged in high risk behavior. Findings suggest that enhancing methadone maintenance with an intervention targeting HIV-seropositive IDUs increases both harm reduction and health promotion behaviors.
Margolin
Arthur
A
Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06519, USA. arthur.margolin@yale.edu
Avants
S Kelly
SK
Warburton
Lara A
LA
Hawkins
Keith A
KA
Shi
Julia
J
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008370:Manuals as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications* / Q000523:psychology