PSYCHOPATHOLOGY AND HIV RISK BEHAVIORS AMONG INJECTION-DRUG USERS IN AND OUT OF TREATMENT

To replicate prior descriptions of injection drug users (IDUs), 158 ID Us recruited via a street-outreach program were compared to 320 non-ID Us on measures of substance use, lifetime psychopathology, and HIV ris k behavior. IDUs were more likely to receive a diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder, but not other psychiatric diagnoses, and to rep ort dependence on multiple substances. IDUs reported more HIV risk beh aviors, but perceived HIV risk did not differ from non-IDUs. Compared to IDUs who declined treatment, IDUs willing to accept treatment did n ot differ on drug-related problems, lifetime psychopathology, or perce ived HIV risk.