A MATHEMATICAL-MODEL OF THE IMPACT OF CRACK-COCAINE USE ON THE PREVALENCE OF HIV AIDS AMONG DRUG-USERS/

We propose a dynamic model to study the impact of the introduction of crack-cocaine among illicit drug users, considering the population div ided into susceptible to drug use, crack-cocaine users, intravenous dr ug users, and users of both types of drugs. With respect to HIV infect ion status each one of these classes can, in turn, be susceptible to o r infected with HIV or have already developed full-blown AIDS. Simulat ions were performed considering different transmission intensities for both parenterally and sexually transmitted HN in each class of drug u se. Differential mortality rates for each class of drug use and of HIV infection status was also considered. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.