Community-Based Program for Latino Substance Abusers at Risk for HIV

Abstract

In the year 2000, the Latino ¹ population in the United States became the nation's largest ethnic and racial minority group. In Philadelphia, Latinos comprised 8.5% of the population with 71% identifying as Puerto Ricans. Ethnic and racial minorities are disproportionately affected by HIV infection. In 2002, HIV/AIDS was one of the top five causes of death among Latinos aged 35 to 44. In addition, the Latino population is at high risk for contracting HIV secondary to risky behaviors, such as substance abuse or unprotected sex. This article presents the findings from a project designed to decrease the risk for HIV infection among Latino substance abusers.

KEYWORDS:

• Latino
• HIV infection
• disproportionality
• substance abuse

Notes

The authors wish to thank the staff at Asociacion de Puertorreiquenos en Marcha, Inc. for their hard work on behalf of the clients they serve: Mark Kirszner, Iris Cabellero, Yanitza Gonzalez, Esther Aguero, Kathy Lees, and other support personnel.

The authors also wish to thank Lisa Colby, MSW; Nicole Fields, MSW; Stephanie Rubenzahl, MSW; and Ann Kazcorowski, MSW for their contributions in the first few years of the Programa Conexiones.

This project was carried out with funding from a Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration (SAMHSA), Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) grant from the Targeted Capacity Expansion Program for Substance Abuse Treatment and HIV/AIDS Services (TCE/HIV). The views and opinions contained in the publication do not necessarily reflect those of the Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and should not be construed as such.

1. While the authors use the general term “Latino” in this paper, it is crucial to make the distinction that under this characterization there is a diverse range of national origins. To ignore those distinctions would be an oversight, however the authors of this paper use the term “Latino” for simplicity sake.