African-American injection drug users: Tensions and barriers in HIV/AIDS prevention

This exploratory study utilized a focus group methodology to explore tensio ns and barriers in HIV/AIDS prevention among African-American injection dru g users. Participants discussed HIV infection risks, national/community HIV prevention effectiveness, prevention barriers, ideas on barrier removal, a nd the tensions which exist between users and the larger African-American c ommunity. Recognizing the inevitability of continued drug use for many inje ctors, participants requested basic harm-reduction supplies including condo ms, needle exchange programs, additional drug user treatment services,, and the use of culturally- and gender-matched peer-led prevention and treatmen t outreach. Preliminary recommendations are made for consideration in HIV/A IDS prevention among African-American IDUs.