Sexual risk reduction among non-injection drug users: report of a randomized controlled trial

Abstract

We conducted a randomized controlled trial of a sexual risk-reduction intervention targeting non-injection drug users (NIDUs) and members of their drug-use/sexual networks (N=270). The intervention was based primarily on the social-influencing approach, and was delivered in four sessions. Sexual risk behaviors were examined at baseline, and 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after the completion of the intervention using the vaginal equivalent episodes (VEE), a weighted sexual risk behavior index. VEE scores decreased in both the active and control conditions in the first six months post-intervention and continued to decline in the control group. However, in the active condition, VEE scores increased after the nine-month assessment and approached baseline levels by the 12-month assessment. There was no evidence of significant differences in high-risk sexual behaviors between the intervention and control conditions. Future studies are needed to improve behavioral interventions in this population.

Keywords:

• non-injecting drug users
• sexual risk behaviors
• social networks

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse Grant #RO1-DA014222. It was partially supported by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) through a cooperative agreement for the Center for Research and Education on Mental Health Therapeutics at Rutgers (U18HS016097).