title: Convergence of HIV seroprevalence among injecting and non-injecting drug users in New York City.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare HIV prevalence among injecting and non-injecting heroin and cocaine users in New York City. As HIV is efficiently transmitted through the sharing of drug-injecting equipment, HIV infection has historically been higher among injecting drug users.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two separate cross-sectional surveys, both with HIV counseling and testing and drug use and HIV risk behavior questionnaires.
  
  
  METHODS
  Injecting and non-injecting heroin and cocaine users recruited at detoxification and methadone maintenance treatment from 2001-2004 (n = 2121) and recruited through respondent-driven sampling from a research storefront in 2004 (n = 448).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both studies, HIV prevalence was nearly identical among current injectors (injected in the last 6 months) and heroin and cocaine users who had never injected: 13% [95% confidence interval (CI), 12-15%] among current injectors and 12% (95% CI, 9-16%) among never-injectors in the drug treatment program study, and 15% (95% CI, 11-19%) among current injectors and 17% (95% CI, 12-21%) among never injectors in the respondent driven sampling storefront study. The 95% CIs overlapped in all gender and race/ethnicity subgroup comparisons of HIV prevalence in both studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The very large HIV epidemic among drug users in New York City appears to be entering a new phase, in which sexual transmission is of increasing importance. Additional prevention programs are needed to address this transition.
authors.affiliation: Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, New York 10038, USA. dcdesjarla@aol.com
authors.forename: Don C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Des Jarlais
authors.forename: Kamyar
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arasteh
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Perlis
authors.forename: Holly
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hagan
authors.forename: Abu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdul-Quader
authors.forename: Douglas D
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Heckathorn
authors.forename: Courtney
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McKnight
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bramson
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nemeth
authors.forename: Lucia V
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Torian
authors.forename: Samuel R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Friedman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology