A comparison of HIV risk behaviors between new and long-term injection drug users

The purpose of this study was to characterize the injection and sexual risk behaviors of a cohort of active drug injectors who have initiated injectio n within the past 4 years and to compare their behaviors with the risk beha viors of long-term injectors who have been injecting drugs since 1984. A st ratified, network-based sample was used to recruit injection drug users fro m the streets in Miami-Dade, Florida. After screening for eligibility, whic h included a urine test to confirm current drug use, participants were admi nistered a structured questionnaire that included basic demographic informa tion, drug-use history, and HIV risk behavior practices. Both injector grou ps displayed a high level of HIV injection risk behavior. Although new init iates into injection demonstrated lower risk behavior than long-term inject ors at the first injection episode, the current risk behavior between new a nd long-ten injectors is similar.