THE EFFECT OF ENTERING DRUG-TREATMENT AN INVOLVEMENT IN HIV-RELATED RISK BEHAVIORS

The research described here is based on a sample of 8,241 out-of-drug- treatment users of injected drugs and/or crack, aged 18 or older, recr uited from 22 sites across the United States and Puerto Rico. The stud y divided respondents into three groups-(a) cocaine or crack users who did not also use heroin or speedball (cocaine-only users), (b) heroin injectors who did not also use cocaine or crack or speedball (heroin injectors), and (c) users of cocaine or crack and injected heroin or s peedball (dual users)-and compared the efficacy of entering drug treat ment for these groups' involvement in HIV-related risk behaviors. The study found that entry into treatment corresponded to greater reductio ns in substance abusers' frequency of drug use and involvement in risk y injection practices compared to those observed in people who did not enter treatment between their baseline and 6-month followup interview s. Entry into drug treatment was also associated with reductions in th e practice of risky sexual behaviors, but these reductions were less s ubstantial and less consistent than those noted for drug use and injec tion risk behaviors.