TY - JOUR
T1 - High prevalence of substance use among heterosexuals living in communities with high rates of AIDS and poverty in Washington, DC
AU - Kuo, Irene
AU - Greenberg, Alan E.
AU - Magnus, Manya
AU - Phillips, Gregory
AU - Rawls, Anthony
AU - Peterson, James
AU - Hamilton, Flora
AU - West-Ojo, Tiffany
AU - Hader, Shannon
N1 - Funding Information:
This study was funded by the District of Columbia, DOH HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD, and Tuberculosis Administration (HAHSTA), Contract no. POHC-2006-C-0030, funded in part by Grant no. PS000966-01, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). The CDC provided technical support in the collection of the data as part of National HIV Behavioral Surveillance but had no further role in the design, conduct and interpretation of this analysis, in the writing of this report or in the decision to submit the paper for publication. All coauthors have reviewed and approved the final draft of the manuscript, including those from the District of Columbia DOH/HAHSTA. Under the Public Health/Academic Partnership between the DC DOH and GWU, the District of Columbia DOH/HAHSTA had the right to review and approve the manuscript. The content of this publication does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of DHHS/CDC, and responsibility for the content of this report rests solely with the authors.
PY - 2011/9/1
Y1 - 2011/9/1
N2 - Objectives: To assess the prevalence and patterns of substance use, HIV prevalence, and sexual risk behaviors in a community-based sample of heterosexuals recruited from areas at high risk for HIV/AIDS and poverty in Washington, DC. Methods: Community-recruited heterosexuals aged 18-50 from areas of high AIDS and poverty rates in DC were analyzed. Based on past 12 months use, participants were hierarchically classified into five groups: (1) ever injection drug use (IDU); (2) non-injection crack; (3) non-injection heroin and cocaine; (4) marijuana; and (5) no drug use. Sexual behaviors and HIV serology were also assessed. Results: Of 862 participants, 40% were men, most were Black and unemployed, and more than half had ever been incarcerated. Prevalence of past year substance use was high: binge drinking (59%); marijuana (50%); non-injection crack (28%); heroin and/or cocaine injection (28%), non-injection cocaine (13%); and ecstasy (13%). In the hierarchical classification, 25% were ever IDU, 15% non-injection crack users, 2% non-injection heroin and/or cocaine users, 31% marijuana users, and 27% reported no drug use. Overall HIV seroprevalence was 5.7% and differed by drug use group-9.5%, 11.1%, 1.8%, 1.6%, and 3.2%, respectively. Nearly half reported having ≥3 sex partners in the past year; 20% reported exchange partners, and 69% had concurrent sex partners. Conclusion: Estimated prevalence of substance use in this heterosexual population was high. HIV prevalence among IDUs and non-injection crack users was higher than the estimated population prevalence in Washington, DC. Sexual behaviors above and beyond drug use are likely to be driving HIV transmission.
AB - Objectives: To assess the prevalence and patterns of substance use, HIV prevalence, and sexual risk behaviors in a community-based sample of heterosexuals recruited from areas at high risk for HIV/AIDS and poverty in Washington, DC. Methods: Community-recruited heterosexuals aged 18-50 from areas of high AIDS and poverty rates in DC were analyzed. Based on past 12 months use, participants were hierarchically classified into five groups: (1) ever injection drug use (IDU); (2) non-injection crack; (3) non-injection heroin and cocaine; (4) marijuana; and (5) no drug use. Sexual behaviors and HIV serology were also assessed. Results: Of 862 participants, 40% were men, most were Black and unemployed, and more than half had ever been incarcerated. Prevalence of past year substance use was high: binge drinking (59%); marijuana (50%); non-injection crack (28%); heroin and/or cocaine injection (28%), non-injection cocaine (13%); and ecstasy (13%). In the hierarchical classification, 25% were ever IDU, 15% non-injection crack users, 2% non-injection heroin and/or cocaine users, 31% marijuana users, and 27% reported no drug use. Overall HIV seroprevalence was 5.7% and differed by drug use group-9.5%, 11.1%, 1.8%, 1.6%, and 3.2%, respectively. Nearly half reported having ≥3 sex partners in the past year; 20% reported exchange partners, and 69% had concurrent sex partners. Conclusion: Estimated prevalence of substance use in this heterosexual population was high. HIV prevalence among IDUs and non-injection crack users was higher than the estimated population prevalence in Washington, DC. Sexual behaviors above and beyond drug use are likely to be driving HIV transmission.
KW - Crack
KW - Drug use
KW - HIV
KW - Heterosexual
KW - Injection drug use
KW - Marijuana
KW - Washington, DC
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U2 - 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2011.01.006
DO - 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2011.01.006
M3 - Article
C2 - 21316871
AN - SCOPUS:79960837768
SN - 0376-8716
VL - 117
SP - 139
EP - 144
JO - Drug and Alcohol Dependence
JF - Drug and Alcohol Dependence
IS - 2-3
ER -
