SEXUAL BEHAVIORS AND COCAINE PREFERENCE AMONG INJECTION-DRUG USERS INLOS-ANGELES

Based on a 1988-91 sample of 826 drug-using arrestees in Los Angeles, this study compares the sexual behaviors of users whose preferred inje ction drug is cocaine and users with a preference for heroin or no pre ference between the two drugs. Sex with multiple partners is more comm on among users whose preferred injection drug is cocaine after variabl es such as age, gender, and crack use are controlled. Condom use and f requency of sex while high are not related to injection cocaine prefer ence in this sample. These results suggest that preventive outreach to injection drug users in Los Angeles might be more effective if tailor ed to sexual behavior patterns that vary by injection drug.