Association of alcohol consumption with HIV sex- and drug-risk behaviors among drug users

The relationship between alcohol use and HIV transmission is well recognize d but not fully understood. In particular, the role of alcohol abuse as a m ediator of HIV risk behavior among drug users is not well documented. We hy pothesized that alcohol use in drug users will result in greater HIV risk-t aking behavior, Participants were 354 drug users, of whom 105 were recent i njection drug users. Multiple regression models were used to characterize w hether measures of sexual and injection drug use HIV risk behavior were rel ated to alcohol consumption, controlling for other potentially associated f actors. We found that sexual HIV risk-taking behavior is associated with in creased alcohol consumption among women (p = 0.02), with women having more risky sexual behavior than males. However, contrary to our hypothesis, ther e was no significant association of alcohol consumption with risky injectio n drug behavior. Addressing alcohol problems among drug users, particularly women, may be an important opportunity to reduce HIV sexual risk behavior among this high-risk population. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.