INJECTING DRUG-USERS WHO WANT TREATMENT

This study examined characteristics of injecting drug users (IDUs) who want treatment and the features that differentiate them from IDUs who do not want treatment. Data were collected as part of a community-bas ed HIV prevention project in San Antonio, Texas. Interviews were admin istered to 1,100 IDUs between February 1993 and May 1995. Interview to pics included sociodemographics, drug use history, current drug use, t reatment history, injection-related HIV risk behavior, sexual behavior , and previous contact related to HIV prevention. Multiple logistic re gression analysis identified four factors independently associated wit h wanting treatment in the multivariate model. These were: (1) 30 or m ore injections per month; (2) being eligible for methadone maintenance ; (3) 2 or more previous treatment admissions; and (4) being recruited after the first year of the project. Implications of these findings a re discussed.