HIV PREVALENCE AND FREQUENCY OF RISK BEHAVIOR IN INJECTING DRUG-USERSENTERING TREATMENT AND OUT OF TREATMENT - A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN 5 ITALIAN CITIES

We conducted a study to describe current patterns of drug-related beha viors, and to identify characteristics that may distinguish injecting drug users entering treatment from those out of treatment, in five Ita lian cities. Overall, 1, 180 subjects were recruited - 568 entering tr eatment and 612 out of treatment. Male to female ratio was 6.6:1. The median age was similar in the two groups. A high proportion of injecti ng drug users recruited out of treatment had been in treatment at leas t once. HIV prevalence among injecting drug users entering treatment w as not higher than that of those who were out of treatment. Furthermor e, a large proportion of injecting drug users who still were out of tr eatment reported having adopted safe behaviors. The results of the stu dy emphasize the need to implement outreach programs aimed at harm red uction.