198225 HIV risk behaviors and substance abuse/dependence among incarcerated drug-involved offenders: Identifying opportunities for interventions

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Jef St. De Lore, MPH , Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, University of California, Los Angeles, Seattle, WA
William M. Burdon, PhD , Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Michael L. Prendergast, PhD , NPI-Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, UCLA Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, Los Angeles, CA
Background: The objective of this analysis is to quantify HIV risk factors among incarcerated drug-involved offenders, identify the relationship between these factors and substance abuse/dependence, and identify opportunities for education and prevention interventions. Because of the high level of exposure to HIV infection that accompanies drug use, substance abuse treatment programs represent an opportunity for preventing the spread of HIV both within prison and following release to the community. Research has found that HIV interventions in prison-based treatment programs, as well as prevention services following release from prison, can be efficacious in reducing high risk behaviors.

Methods: For this study, data on HIV risk behaviors and substance abuse/dependence were collected from offenders participating in two studies involving in-prison drug treatment programs in Washington State. Participants were assessed prior to receiving treatment and immediately prior to discharge from treatment and release from prison. Records–based data on post-prison participation in treatment is being collected, and a subsample of subjects will be administered interviews at 12 months post-release. Inferential statistical methods (chi-square, t-tests, ANOVA, and MANOVA/MANCOVA) will be used to identify HIV risk factors and the relationships between these factors and substance abuse/dependence.

Results: By identifying HIV risk factors unique to this population and their relationship to substance abuse/dependence, opportunities for new and/or more effective education and prevention interventions can be more clearly identified and implemented for drug-involved offenders within the context of prison–based treatment and following release from prison .

Conclusions: At time of submission, analyses are still being performed.

Learning Objectives:
By the end of the presentation, participants will be able to quantify HIV risk factors among incarcerated drug-involved offenders, identify the relationship between these factors and substance abuse/dependence, and identify opportunities for education and prevention interventions.

Keywords: Incarceration, HIV/AIDS

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Jef St. De Lore has been actively involved in public health programming and research for over 13 years. In 2006, he received a Master’s Degree in Public Health from the University of Washington. For the past two years, Mr. St. De Lore has been a project director for UCLA’s Integrated Substance Abuse Programs, managing the day-to-day tasks of two multi-year research studies funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) in Washington State, overseeing data collection activities, conducting focus groups, and working with the Principal Investigator on data analyses. Study 1 is a 4-year research project that will assess the effectiveness of a behavioral reinforcement intervention at increasing inmate engagement in prison-based substance abuse treatment. Study 2 is a 5-year research project that will assess the differential clinical and cost-effectiveness of prison-based residential vs. intensive outpatient treatment. Both of these studies are being conducted in collaboration with the Washington State Department of Corrections and CiviGenics Inc., the provider of in-prison substance abuse treatment services in the Washington State prison system. Mr. St. De Lore has conducted over 61 workshops and lectures locally in Washington State and has been the first author of six presentations at national conferences and been a co-author of three additional three national presentations (see below). Burdon, W, St. De Lore, Prendergast, M. (2008, June). Project BRITE: Baseline Assessments of Treatment Effectiveness and Organizational Readiness for Change. Poster session presented at the College of Problems on Drug Dependence, San Juan, Puerto Rico St. De Lore, J., Burdon, W.M., & Prendergast, M. L. (2008, June) The NOBLE Study: Assessing the effectiveness of residential vs. intensive outpatient prison-based treatment and inmates' views on HIV/AIDS-related behaviors and services. Poster session presented at the College of Problems on Drug Dependence, San Juan, Puerto Rico Burdon, W, St. De Lore, Prendergast, M. (2008, February). Project BRITE: Baseline Assessments of Treatment Effectiveness and Organizational Readiness for Change. Paper presented at the UCLA Addiction Seminar, Los Angeles, CA St. De Lore, J., Burdon, W.M., & Prendergast, M. L. (2008, June). The NOBLE Study: Assessing the effectiveness of residential vs. intensive outpatient prison-based treatment and inmates' views on HIV/AIDS-related behaviors and services. Paper presented at the UCLA Addiction Seminar, Los Angeles, CA Burdon, W, St. De Lore, Prendergast, M. (2007, November). Project BRITE: Baseline Assessments of Treatment Effectiveness and Organizational Readiness for Change. Paper presented at the American Society of Criminology Conference, Atlanta, GA St. De Lore, J., Burdon, W.M., & Prendergast, M. L. (2007, November). The NOBLE Study: Assessing the effectiveness of residential vs. intensive outpatient prison-based treatment and inmates' views on HIV/AIDS-related behaviors and services. Paper presented at the American Society of Criminology Conference, Atlanta, GA St. De Lore, J., Cheadle, A., Thiede, H., Goldbaum, G., Hutcheson, R., Golden, M. Jenkins, R., & Carey, J. (2006, May). HIV disclosure and subsequent sexual behaviors among men who have sex with men who meet online. Paper presented at the National STD Prevention Conference, Jacksonville, FL St. De Lore, J. Menza, T. Fleming, M. & Golden, M. (2006, May). Partner notification for gonorrhea and chlamydial infection in men who have sex with men: success is underestimated by traditional disposition codes. Poster session presented at the National STD Prevention Conference, Jacksonville, FL St. De Lore, J. (2000, June). Same Sex Domestic Violence Issues. Paper presented at the Gay Men’s Health Summit, Boulder, CO.
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.

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