GENDER, COCAINE AND DURING-TREATMENT HIV RISK REDUCTION AMONG INJECTION OPIOID USERS IN METHADONE-MAINTENANCE

HIV risk behavior was examined in relation to gender and cocaine use a mong a sample of 327 daily opioid users in methadone maintenance treat ment. Women and cocaine users tended to be at higher risk than men and non-users prior to treatment entry. Significant reductions in both in jection and sex-related risks occurred from intake to months 3 and 6 o f treatment; HIV risks were also reduced among the subsample of client s who continued to inject drugs during treatment. The rate of HIV risk reduction was similar for both cocaine and non-cocaine users, but wom en had lower rates of risk reduction than men in terms of injecting wi th used equipment and number of sex partners. Measures of risk behavio r at month 6 of treatment showed that women used 'dirty works' more of ten than men, and cocaine users injected more frequently and had more sex partners than non-cocaine users. Study outcomes highlight the need for specialized interventions targeting women and cocaine-using opioi d addicts.