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.