title: Racial Differences in HIV and HCV Risk Behaviors, Transmission, and Prevention Knowledge among Non-Treatment-Seeking Individuals with Opioid Use Disorder.
abstract: In light of New York's recently reinforced strategy to end the AIDS epidemic by expanding testing, treatment, and access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), we assessed drug use and sexual risk behaviors, along with HIV/Hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission and prevention knowledge among non-treatment-seeking adults with opioid use disorder (OUD) in New York City. Over the course of 18 months, volunteers screening for research studies in the Opioid Laboratory at the New York State Psychiatric Institute completed a locally developed self-assessment questionnaire. A total of 138 adults with OUD (24 female, 114 male) with a mean age of 46.5 years (SD = 9.5 yrs) were assessed. Significant differences among the four racial/ethnic subgroups (n = 65 African-Americans, n = 34 Hispanics, n = 31 Caucasians or Whites, n = 8 Multiracial) were found. Whites were the youngest (p = 0.001), most frequently injecting drugs (p < 0.001), and engaged more often in risky drug use and sexual behaviors, although their virus transmission knowledge was comparable to that of the other subgroups. Few participants had heard about PrEP. White opioid users showed the most risk behaviors among races/ethnicities, despite comparable prevention knowledge. Better HIV/HCV prevention interventions targeting individuals with opioid use disorders who are not currently in treatment would be desirable, given their large health burden.
authors.affiliation: a Postdoctoral Research Scientist, Department of Psychiatry, Division on Substance Abuse , New York State Psychiatric Institute & Columbia University Medical Center , New York , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Verena E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Metz
authors.affiliation: b Study Physician, Department of Psychiatry, Division on Substance Abuse , New York State Psychiatric Institute & Columbia University Medical Center , New York , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Maria A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.affiliation: c Assistant Professor of Clinical Neurobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Division on Substance Abuse , New York State Psychiatric Institute & Columbia University Medical Center , New York , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Jermaine D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: d Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Psychiatry, Division on Substance Abuse , New York State Psychiatric Institute & Columbia University Medical Center , New York , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: e Research Assistant, Department of Psychiatry, Division on Substance Abuse , New York State Psychiatric Institute & Columbia University Medical Center , New York , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Luba
authors.affiliation: e Research Assistant, Department of Psychiatry, Division on Substance Abuse , New York State Psychiatric Institute & Columbia University Medical Center , New York , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vogelman
authors.affiliation: e Research Assistant, Department of Psychiatry, Division on Substance Abuse , New York State Psychiatric Institute & Columbia University Medical Center , New York , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Sandra D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Comer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009519:New York City / Q000453:epidemiology; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D044469:Racial Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012647:Self-Assessment; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Ethnicities; HIV; Hepatitis C; opioid users; prevention; risk behaviors