title: Injecting, sexual risk behaviors and HIV infection in young cocaine and heroin users in Spain.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate differences between young cocaine users and heroin users (HUs) regarding the prevalence of sexual and injection risk behavior, and HIV, HCV and HBV infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two community cohorts were recruited in Madrid, Barcelona and Seville; 720 cocaine users, of whom 586 had never used heroin (CUs), and 991 HUs were interviewed. Dried blood spot samples were tested.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CUs were less marginalized socially than HUs. Only 0.9% had ever injected versus 64.3%; none had ever injected with borrowed syringes versus 25%; 2.2% had an injecting steady partner in the last 12 months versus 24.9%; 4.8% had ever traded sex versus 16.0%. However, 31.0 versus 12.7% had unprotected sex with more than two occasional partners in the last 12 months; 45.0 versus 21.9% had sniffed through tubes used by more than 10 persons. Only 32.3% knew their HIV status versus 80.3%; 0.4 versus 18.1% were HIV positive; 0.9 versus 51.9% were HCV positive, and 1.5 versus 17.0% were HBV positive.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The intense cocaine epidemic has hitherto had little impact on either HIV, HBV or HCV in Spain. However, surveillance should be intensified given the high percentage of CUs having unprotected sex with occasional partners.
authors.affiliation: Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: M Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Brugal
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pulido
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Toro
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: de la Fuente
authors.forename: María J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Bravo
authors.forename: Rosario
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ballesta
authors.forename: Vicente
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Soriano
authors.forename: Gregorio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Barrio
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vallejo
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Domingo-Salvany
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Castellano
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D047568:Unsafe Sex; D055815:Young Adult