186603 Integrating Rapid HIV Testing into Substance Abuse and Mental Health Settings Nationally: The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Rapid HIV Testing Initiative

Monday, October 27, 2008: 5:42 PM

Kirk James, MD , Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, MD
Laura E. House, PhD, MSW , Cetnter for Substance Abuse Treatment, Rockville, MD
Warren Hewitt, MS , Center for Substanc Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, MD
David Thompson , Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, MD
Stella Jones, MSW , Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Rockville, MD
Stephen Carrington, MPH , Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, MD
Westley Clark, MD, JD, MPH , Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, MD
     
Background:

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) initiated the Rapid HIV Testing Initiative (RHTI) in 2005 to explore the feasibility of implementing rapid HIV testing in substance abuse and mental health settings nationally to address the higher incidence and prevalence rates of HIV/AIDS among minority populations and those with substance abuse and/or mental health disorders.

Methods:

From November 2006 through October 2007, SAMHSA distributed 45,775 rapid HIV test kits to 120 substance abuse and mental health eligible service providers who were SAMHSA and non-SAMHSA grantees, along with training on testing, prevention, counseling and data collection.

Results:

Findings indicated a sample of 32,883 individuals tested from 120 providers in 14 states. Of these individuals, 59% were male and 41% were female. The racial and ethnic groups included African Americans (44%), Whites (36%), and Latinos (16.1%). African Americans were more likely to be tested in outreach settings (36.7%), while Whites were more likely to be tested in outpatient settings (49.3%) and Latinos in methadone clinics (38%). Various high risk behaviors were reported including unprotected sex with females (36%), unprotected sex with males (37%), alcohol use (29%), and illegal drug use (20%). Bivariate relationships will also be discussed, along with test result data.

Conclusion/Significance:

The AIDS epidemic is now into its third decade as epidemic and testing in drug treatment systems has become a critical dimension to HIV prevention efforts. This pilot effort provides compelling insight reinforcing the primacy of HIV rapid testing to treatment and outreach systems and providers.

Learning Objectives:
1. To describe the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Rapid HIV Testing Initiative (RHTI) and the introduction of rapid HIV test kits to eligible substance abuse and mental health service provider organizations throughout the United States 2. To discuss the experience of training individual service providers in substance abuse and mental health organizations to conduct rapid HIV test training in an effort to expand capacity and infrastructure 3. To present findings on clients tested with SAMHSA rapid HIV test kits as well as provider characteristics.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Substance Abuse

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to be an abstract author because of my work as Medical Officer and Project Officer on the Rapid HIV Initiative at SAMHSA.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Intergrating HIV Care and Substance Abuse Treatment: It's a Two-Way Street
See more of: Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs