4176.0: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 - 2:55 PM

Abstract #26473

HIV infection among injection drug users (IDUs). Methamphetamine use and geographic differences among young IDUs in five large metropolitan areas

Peter R. Kerndt, MD, MPH1, S Bailey, Don Des Jarlais, PhD3, Lopez-Zetina Javier, PhD, MA4, Ed Morse, PhD5, S Strathdee6, David Vlahov, PhD7, and RS Garfein, PhD. (1) STD Program, Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, 2615 S. Grand Ave, Room 500, Los Angeles, CA 90007, (213) 744-3093, prk40@aol.com, (2) National Development and Research Institutes, Inc, Two World Trade Center, 16th Floor, New York, NY 10048, (3) Health Science, California State University Long Beach, 1250 Bellflower Blvd., Long Beach, CA 90840, (4) Tulane University, Tulane Univeristy, 1440 Canal Street 20th Floor, New Orleans, LA 70112, (5) Department of Epidemiology, The Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, 627 North Washington Street, 3rd Floor, Baltimore, MD 21205, (6) Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Ave, New York, NY 10029

OBJECTIVE: To describe geographic and methamphetamine drug use differences among young IDUs. METHODS: Longitudinal HIV risk survey and screening conducted by street-outreach in five metropolitan areas between 1997 and 1999. Three groups were examined by methamphetamine use and geographic location: Los Angeles methamphetamine injectors (LA-MA injectors), methamphetamine injectors elsewhere (non-LA MA injectors) and non-methamphetamine injectors from all study sites (non-MA injectors). FINDINGS: 2198 participants were recruited; 63% were male, median age 23 years, 53% Caucasian, 20% African-Americans, 19% Latinos, and 8% other/mixed. Heroin was most common substance injected across sites except LA where methamphetamine use was greatest. Overall HIV seroprevalence was 4.7%, and 1.1% (12/1051) seroconverted during follow-up. Highest HIV prevalence was observed among LA MA injectors (6.1%) followed by non-MA injectors (4.9%) and non-LA MA injectors (2.4%, p < 0.10). The highest proportion of seroconverters was observed among LA MA injectors (3.1%), followed by non-MA injectors (1.0%), and no seroconversion detected among non-LA MA injectors (p < 0.05). Among LA MA injectors, all seroconverters were MSM; MSM comprised 25% of all seroconverters among non-MA injectors. After adjusting for HIV seroprevalence level across sites (low, intermediate, high), LA-MA injectors were 4 times more likely to seroconvert than non-MA injectors (OR=3.9; 95% C.I.=1.1,15.5). CONCLUSION. Methamphetamine injecting was associated with increased risk for HIV infection. The findings suggest that high-risk behaviors for HIV infection may differ by type of drug injected and geographic location. Ongoing, targeted surveillance may help elucidate specific patterns of HIV spread in high-risk subpopulations.

Learning Objectives: N/A

Keywords: HIV Risk Behavior, Injection Drug Users

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.

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA