Change in Drug-Using Networks of Injecting Drug Users during Methadone Treatment: A Pilot Study Using Snowball Recruitment and Intensive Interviews

Abstract

This pilot study used snowball recruitment methods and intensive interviews to assess personal drug-using networks and HIV risk behavior of injection drug users (IDUs). Index subjects were 22 methadone maintenance patients reporting current drug injection who were interviewed about personal drug-using networks both current and prior to treatment entry. The index subjects were then asked to recruit other network members to the study. Ninety-seven network members were identified and 40 interviewed, including 18 not in treatment. Index IDUs reported fewer co-IDUs for the treatment period than the pre-treatment period, suggesting a reduction in risk of exposure to HIV. The combination of snowball recruitment and intensive interview procedures constitutes a useful method for studying IDU networks.

Key Words:

• Injection drug use
• Drug use networks
• Snowball sampling
• Methadone maintenance
• HIV-risk behavior