title: Stigma, sexual risks, and the war on drugs: Examining drug policy and HIV/AIDS inequities among African Americans using the Drug War HIV/AIDS Inequities Model.
abstract: The relationship between drug policy and HIV vulnerability is well documented. However, little research examines the links between racial/ethnic HIV disparities via the Drug War, sexual risk, and stigma. The Drug War HIV/AIDS Inequities Model has been developed to address this dearth. This model contends that inequitable policing and sentencing promotes sexual risks, resource deprivation, and ultimately greater HIV risk for African-Americans. The Drug War also socially marginalizes African Americans and compounds stigma for incarcerated and formerly incarcerated persons living with HIV/AIDS. This marginalization has implications for sexual risk-taking, access to health-promoting resources, and continuum of care participation. The Drug War HIV/AIDS Inequities Model may help illuminate mechanisms that promote increased HIV vulnerability as well as inform structural intervention development and targeting to address racial/ethnic disparities.
authors: Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, School of Public Health and Information Sciences, University of Louisville, 485 E. Gray St., Louisville, KY 40202, United States; Sociology, Anthropology, and Criminology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Windsor, 401 Sunset Ave., Windsor, ON N9B 3P4, Canada. Electronic address: j.kerr@louisville.edu.
authors: Jelani
authors: J
authors: Kerr
authors: Office of Public Health Practice, School of Public Health and Information Sciences, University of Louisville, 1300 W. Muhammad Ali Blvd., Louisville, KY 40203, United States.
authors: Trinidad
authors: T
authors: Jackson
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D055030:Drug Users / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000523:psychology; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D033161:Government Regulation; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D011050:Policy Making; D011329:Prisoners; D063505:Racism; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D057545:Social Stigma; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D047568:Unsafe Sex / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology
keywords: African Americans; Drug policy; HIV; Racial/ethnic disparities