Poverty and Methamphetamine Abuse

Abstract

Poverty and substance abuse increase the likelihood that individuals will engage in behaviors that transmit the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). The author presents descriptive data from 75 women respondents with substance abuse histories from rural northern California. Respondents were mostly poor and white (75%), nearly half had less than a high school diploma, and a large majority were unemployed and receiving public assistance. Methamphetamine was the drug regularly used by the highest number of women in the study (60 out of 75), with an average period of regular use of 6 years. Descriptive data illustrate the extent of the respondents' sexual and drug use risk behaviors for HIV transmission. A background review presents a profile of AIDS risk behaviors involved in drug use subcultures. The author suggests that drug treatment opportunities be expanded for women and men, along with grassroots organizing and creative outreach strategies to enhance prevention.

Key Words:

• HIV/AIDS
• women
• poverty
• risk behaviors
• rural