LINKING INJECTION-DRUG USERS TO MEDICAL-SERVICES - ROLE OF STREET OUTREACH REFERRALS

Street outreach workers in HIV prevention have expanded their role to include referring injection drug users to medical services. However, l ittle is known about whether drug users act on these referrals. The st udy discussed in this article examined the level of exposure to street outreach reported by injection drug users, the most common medical re ferrals acted on as a result of such contacts, anti the predictors of acting on these referrals. Findings indicate that injection drug users with four or more contacts with street outreach workers during the pr eceding six months were more likely to report acting on referrals. To maximize the relevance of outreach for encouraging medical treatment, both street outreach workers and social workers in health care could b enefit from cross training that focuses on strengthening the referral process.