Background: Both injection drug use and exchanging sex for money/drugs are high HIV/AIDS risk behaviors among clients entering substance abuse treatment. Little is known about the client and Service Delivery Unit (SDU) factors which may account for these high risk behaviors. In the present study, a model was developed for predicting these behaviors during and after treatment. Methods: From the National Treatment Improvement Evaluation Study (NTIES), n=2,671 clients from 52 SDU's were assessed about their drug use and HIV/AIDS risk behaviors at admission and follow-up. For most clients, follow-up interviews took place between 4 and 16 months after treatment. Compared were clients who at admission reported:1. Both Behaviors (IDU and sex exchange)-- n=126, 2. IDU only--n=479, 3. Sex exchange only--n=400, and 4. Neither Behavior--n=1,666. A Hierarchical Linear Model (HLM) was developed to predict HIV/AIDS risk behavior at follow-up. Results: HIV/AIDS risk behavior declined significantly between admission and follow-up. The SDU factors associated with changes in risk behavior were 1. Treatment modality, i.e., Non-methadone treated clients reported less frequent risk behavior than methadone, 2. Counseling frequency, i.e., More frequent counseling sessions offered by the SDU were associated with less frequent risk behavior. Client factors associated with less frequent risk behavior were 1. Less frequent risk behavior before treatment, 2. Longer treatment stays, 3. Longer counseling sessions, 4. Attending school/classes during treatment. Conclusions: 1. Substance abuse treatment reduces HIV/AIDS risk behavior, and 2. both SDU and client factors are important in predicting risk behavior.
Learning Objectives: 1. Identify client factors which predict HIV/AIDS risk behavior. 2. Identify treatment factors which predict HIV/AIDS risk behavior. 3. Prioritze and assess HIV/AIDS predictive factors. 4. Discuss research, practice and policy implications of findings
Keywords: Risk Behavior, Drug Abuse Treatment
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.