Intergenerational Differences in IV Drug Use Behaviors: Implications for HIV Prevention

Abstract

The spread of the human immunodeficiency virus through the IV-drug-using population poses a serious public health threat. The tendency is to consider one IV drug user much the same as another. However, there are likely subtle differences in the behaviors of IV drug users depending on sexual, ethnic, and age differences. This study looks at the IV-drug-using behaviors of young adults 18 to 25 and adults over the age of 40. The drugs injected and rates of injection do differ for the two groups. This would suggest that HIV prevention should be tailored in response to the age differences of the targeted drug users.

Key Words:

• Intravenous drug use
• age
• HIV risk