AIDS, HIV-INFECTION, AND ILLICIT DRUG-USE WITHIN INNER-CITY FAMILIES AND SOCIAL NETWORKS

Objectives. Drug use is commonly depicted and treated as an individual problem. This study describes the extent of drug use, human immunodef iciency virus (HIV) infection, and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) among drug users' sexual partner and family and household membe rs in order to broaden considerations of risk. Methods. Social network charts and structured interviews were administered to 126 women (pred ominantly African American and Latino) enrolled in methadone treatment . The charts elicited the prevalence of drug use and HIV infection amo ng subjects' family and household members. Results. Drug use and HIV/A IDS permeated subjects' sexual, familial, and households relationships . More than half of the women who resided with a sexual partner report ed that their partners currently used drugs. Almost one third of the s ubjects' siblings were drug users. Of the 715 total siblings (all subj ects plus their siblings), 69(9.7%) were known to be HIV positive or t o have an AIDS diagnosis. Conclusions. The sexual, familial, household expressions of drug use underscore the notion that drug use and atten dant risks, including but not limited to HIV infection, might be usefu lly viewed and treated as an inter- and intracommunity problem rather than as an exclusively individual one.