Toward Comprehensive Studies of HIV in Injection Drug Users: Issues in Treatment-Based and Street-Based Samples

Abstract

In the United States, the majority of research and surveillance efforts on the role of injection drug users (IDU) in the transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) have focused on convenience samples of IDUs enrolled in drug user treatment programs. These samples exclude IDUs who are primarily injecting non-opiates and IDUs who are not oriented to entering drug user treatment. IDUs in treatment differ significantly from IDUs who do not enter treatment. This underscores the importance of sampling IDUs not in treatment.

Key Words:

• Injection drug use
• HIV
• Methodology
• Sampling