TEMPORAL TRENDS IN HIV RISK BEHAVIORS OF OUT-OF-TREATMENT INJECTION-DRUG USERS AND INJECTION-DRUG USERS WHO SMOKE CRACK

This study compared the baseline sociodemographic characteristics and HlV risk behaviors of two groups of out-of-treatment injection drug us ers (IDUs): 366 who concurrently smoked crack (smoking IDUs) and 212 w ho did not smoke crack (IDUs) in the past 30 days. Temporal trends in recent risk behaviors were also assessed for each drug user group over an 18-month period, January 1992 through June 1994. Baseline data wer e collected in South Philadelphia before the implementation of a multi site HIV intervention research project funded by the National institut e on Drug Abuse. For the temporal trend analysis, the sample was group ed into four intake periods based on the date of the baseline intervie w. The results indicated that although both groups were economically d isadvantaged and at high risk of HIV infection and transmission, smoki ng injectors had fewer economic resources and were at a moderately gre ater risk because of higher levels of sexual risk behaviors. Analysis of temporal trends revealed few reductions in drug risk behaviors and none in sexual risk behaviors. This study points to the need for exami ning differences between types of drug users, developing appropriate m ultidrug treatment programs and assessing the characteristics of commu nities so that theory-based interventions can be tailored for maximum effectiveness.