Continuation of high-risk behavior by HIV-positive drug users - Treatment implications

Drug users who are positive for the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) repr esent a major vector of HIV transmission, yet relatively little is known ab out their continued drug- and sex-related HIV-risk behavior, which may impe de the development of effective risk-reduction interventions. Ln this study , 50 HN-seropositive injection drug users entering methadone maintenance tr eatment completed a comprehensive risk assessment battery, including self-r eport of I-W-risk behavior since learning HIV serostatus, and measures of r isk-reduction information, motivation, and behavioral skills. We found that a disconcertingly high proportion of patients (66%) reported having engage d in HIV-risk behavior since learning their HIV-seropositive status. Level of HIV-related knowledge did not predict high-risk behavior. Drug-related r isk behavior was predicted by psychiatric severity and poor behavioral skil ls. Sex-related risk was predicted by low levels of motivation and poor beh avioral skills. Implications of these findings for treatment are discussed. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.