GONORRHEA AMONG DRUG-USERS - AN ALASKAN VERSUS A NATIONAL SAMPLE

The study described here investigates the replicability of gender-spec ific risk profiles for gonorrhea based on an Alaskan sample compared t o a U.S. national sample of drug users at risk for HIV infection. The Alaska sample (interviewed at a field station in Anchorage, Alaska; N = 1,049) and the national sample (interviewed at 18 sites other than A laska; N = 17,619) consisted of cocaine smokers and injection drug use rs not in drug treatment. A history of gonorrhea infection was self-re ported and coded as ever or never. The Anchorage and national. risk pr ofile for men included the following factors: (a) history of intranasa l or parenteral cocaine use, (b) being black versus nonblack, (c) bein g older, (d) income from illegal activity, and (e) history of amphetam ine use. The Anchorage and national risk profiles for women included t he following factors: (a) trading sex for money, (b) being Native Amer ican versus non-Native American, and (c) trading sex for drugs. The An chorage model for women included perceived homelessness as a factor, b ut it was not retained in the national model. The extent of the replic ability of these models illustrates the generalizability of Alaskan fi ndings to other U.S. drug-using populations. The authors also discuss the implications of these findings for disease prevention.