Intravenous Drug Use and the AIDS Epidemic: Findings from a 20-City Sample of Arrestees

• NCJ Number: 154649
• Journal: Crime and Delinquency Volume: 38 Issue: 4 Dated: (October 1992) Pages: 492-509
• Author(s): S Decker; R Rosenfeld
• Date Published: 1992
• Length: 18 pages
• Grant Number(s): OJP-90-M-257
• Agencies: NIJ-Sponsored
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)

Annotation

This study uses data on arrestees in 20 cities participating in the Drug Use Forecasting (DUF) program to examine factors associated with high risk for exposure to and transmission of HIV through intravenous drug use as well as behavioral changes that may reduce risk.

Abstract

The analysis focuses on arrestees who have injected illegal drugs, those who have shared needles, and those who currently share needles. About 25 percent of the entire sample of DUF arrestees have injected drugs and half of the intravenous drug users (IVDUs) have shared needles. Although rates of intravenous drug use are higher among females, females are not more likely to share needles than males. Older IVDUs have higher lifetime rates of sharing needles and current needle sharing. Ethnicity and educational level were also associated with lifetime needle sharing. IVDUs are more likely to have multiple sex partners, thereby increasing their risk of contracting HIV. Arrestees who have been in drug treatment are more likely to inject drugs, and IVDUs who have been in treatment are more likely to share needles. However, IVDUs who show a concern about AIDS are less likely to share needles. 3 tables, 1 figure, 35 references, and 1 appendix