PREVENTION OF HIV AMONG DRUG USERS

Abstract

The relationship between injection drug use and HIV was established early in the HIV epidemic, and injection drug use has continued to be an important risk factor for HIV throughout the world. This panel included 4 papers related to HIV prevention among drug users, focusing on effective prevention strategies, the importance of organizing the AIDS-affected community, the impact of knowledge of serostatus on risk behaviors, and developing interventions for drug-using homosexual and bisexual men. These papers, addressing various aspects of the epidemic and methods to enhance prevention efforts, all indicate that although extensive knowledge regarding how to reduce HIV risks among drug users has accumulated, many areas for further research and intervention development remain.

• HIV
• AIDS
• Injection drug users
• Drug users
• Hepatitis
• Community organizing

RESUMEN

La relación entre el uso de droga injectada y el VIH se estableció temprano en la epidemia del VIH, y el uso de droga injectada continua siendo un factor de riesgo importante para el VIH a través el mundo. Este panel incluye 4 presentaciones en relación con la prevención del VIH entre usuarios de droga, enfocando en estrategias eficaces de prevención, la importancia de organizar la comunidad afectada con el SIDA, el impacto de conocimiento de serostatus en conductas de riesgo, y el desarrollo de intervenciones para aquellos homosexuales y hombres bisexuals que usan drogas. Estos papeles, explican varios aspectos de la epidemia y métodos para reforzar esfuerzos de prevención, todo indica que aunque el conocimiento extensivo con respecto a cómo reducir el VIH entre usuarios de droga ha aumentado, muchas áreas por investigar y desarrollo en forma de intervención queda por resolver.

RESUMé

Le rapport entre l'utilisation de drogue d'injection et le VIH a été établi tôt dans l’épidémie du VBIH, et l'utilisation de drogue d'injection a continué à être un facteur de risque important pour VIH dans le monde entire. Cette presentation comprend 4 articles liés à la prevention du VIH chez les utilisateurs de drogue, se concentrant sur les stratégies pertinentes la prevention, l'importance d'organiser la communauté de personnes affectees par le SIDA, l'impact de la connaissance du serostatus sur les comportements a risque, et le developpment d'interventions pour les drogues homosexuels et bisexuels. Ces articles, adressant de divers aspects de l’épidémie et méthodes pour mettre en valeur des efforts de prevention, indiquent tous que bien que la connaissance concernant la façon réduire des risques d'vih parmi des utilisateurs de drogue se soit étendue, il reste beaucoup de domaines dans lesquels davantage de recherche et développement d'interventions sont necessaries.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Sherry Deren

Sherry Deren, Ph.D., is Director of the Center for Drug Use and HIV Research (CDUHR) and the Institute for AIDS Research at National Development and Research Institutes, Inc. (NDRI). Her current research interests include expanding the uses of outreach methodologies, developing HIV/AIDS-related interventions for drug injectors and crack smokers, and enhancing the dissemination of research findings and their utilization by service providers.

Andria Efthimiou-Mordaunt

Andria Efthimiou-Mordaunt, B.Sc., is a counselor, who founded and directs the John Mordaunt Trust, an advocacy project run by and for ex/current drug-users affected by AIDS and/or hepatitis. She helped establish three self-help organizations for people living with AIDS in the U.K.

Fen Rhodes

Fen Rhodes, Ph.D., Director, Center for Behavioral Research and Services, is Professor of Psychology, California State University, Long Beach whose research includes designing and evaluating HIV/STD risk interventions for drug-using men who have sex with men, female sex workers, and non-MSM crack users.

Judith A. Levy

Judith A. Levy, Ph.D., is a Medical Sociologist and currently an Associate Professor at the School of Public Health, University of lllinois at Chicago. Her areas of interest include: HIV, illicit drug-use, and the sociology of the life course.