THE IMPACT ON BEHAVIOR OF NOTIFYING METHADONE PATIENTS OF THEIR HIV SEROSTATUS

Citation
Sm. Katz et al., THE IMPACT ON BEHAVIOR OF NOTIFYING METHADONE PATIENTS OF THEIR HIV SEROSTATUS, The American journal of drug and alcohol abuse, 21(1), 1995, pp. 37-45
Citations number
14
Categorie Soggetti
Substance Abuse","Psycology, Clinical
ISSN journal
00952990
Volume
21
Issue
1
Year of publication
1995
Pages
37 - 45
Database
ISI
SICI code
0095-2990(1995)21:1<37:TIOBON>2.0.ZU;2-P
Abstract
Questions have arisen about the implications of notifying drug abusers of their HIV serostatus. One major concern is that awareness of HIV i nfection would have a negative impact on abstinence from drug abuse. I n order to ascertain the effects of serostatus notification, the autho rs reviewed the clinical records of 73 methadone patients who learned of their serostatus within 20 weeks after enrolling in the clinic and thereafter remained in treatment for at least 1 year. They found that, at serostatus notification. seropositive patients were more likely to be socially disadvantaged and were younger than the seronegatives at first opiate use. After serostatus notification, seropositives had mor e ''fair hearings'' for noncompliance with program norms and used more cocaine. Although the patients notified of HIV infection may have mor e behavioral problems, further research is needed to determine whether or not this reflects antecedent behavior patterns and drug use.