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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Edward Morse, PhD¹, Patricia M. Morse, PhD², Stan Hoogerwerf, MA², William T. Robinson, PhD³, and Samuel Burgess, MA, MPH⁴. (1) Pediatrics, Tulane University, 1430 Tulane Ave SL-37, New Orleans, LA 70112, 504.231.6677, gbear@tulane.edu, (2) Psychiatry, LSU Health Sciences Center, 1542 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA 70112, (3) Louisiana Office of Public Health, HIV/AIDS Program, 234 Loyola Ave., 5th Fl., New Orleans, LA 70112, (4) Louisiana Office of Public Health, 10 10 Common St, New Orleans, LA 70112

Objective: To examine the evacuation patterns, HIV/HCV-related risk behaviors, and substance use acquisition of a population of 16-30 year-old African-American IDUs who at the time of Hurricane Katrina were residents of New Orleans. Methods: Data were collected from 221 young African American IDUs initially recruited from the Orleans Parish jail who have been participants in a five year NIDA- funded longitudinal study of an HIV/HCV risk reduction behavioral intervention. Arc View (ESRI) was used to map participant addresses and associated flood levels at the time of Katrina. Five months post Katrina, a convenience sample of 100 participants were contacted for follow-up to determine evacuation/migration patterns, substance use acquisition, and HIV/HCV sexual and drug risk behaviors. Results: 32% of the 211 participants resided in areas that received at least 5 feet of flood waters; 94% of those addresses are uninhabitable 5 months after Katrina. Of 211 participants, 37% were incarcerated post Katrina in various cities. Data from 100 follow-up interviews indicate participants had evacuated from 50 to 600 miles from New Orleans, had no trouble acquiring illicit drugs, and 60% reported an increase in risk behaviors during the post evacuation period. Conclusions: Regional jailing facilities are likely to house dispersed IDU evacuees. Migration patterns post evacuation coupled with availability of drugs and an increase in injection risk behaviors suggest that communities receiving IDU evacuees are likely to increase their exposure to HIV/HCV. Risk reduction interventions should be part of shelter services post disasters.

Learning Objectives:

• Examine IDU evacuation patterns post Katrina
• Develop a plan for IDU evacuees

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation