CHANGE IN DRUG-USING NETWORKS OF INJECTING DRUG-USERS DURING METHADONE TREATMENT - A PILOT-STUDY USING SNOWBALL RECRUITMENT AND INTENSIVE INTERVIEWS

This pilot study used snowball recruitment methods and intensive inter views to assess personal drug-using networks and HIV risk behavior of injection drug users (IDUs). Index subjects were 22 methadone maintena nce patients reporting current drug injection who were interviewed abo ut personal drug-using networks both current and prior to treatment en try. The index subjects were then asked to recruit other network membe rs to the study. Ninety-seven network members were identified and 40 i nterviewed, including 18 not in treatment. Index IDUs reported fewer c o-IDUs for the treatment period than the pretreatment period, suggesti ng a reduction in risk of exposure to HIV. The combination of snowball recruitment and intensive interview procedures constitutes a useful m ethod for studying IDU networks.