We examined human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) related risk behaviors among methamphetamine (MA) dependent users. Secondary data analysis was performed on data from a large clinical trial: the Methamphetamine Treatment Project (MTP) (N=784). All MA-dependent participants were enrolled in an outpatient treatment program, receiving either a standard psychosocial intervention (Matrix Model) or Treatment-as-Usual. HIV-related risk behavior, including injection and unsafe sexual practices, was assessed using the AIDS Risk Assessment at baseline, treatment discharge, and 6-, 12, and 36 months following treatment participation. Results indicate that HIV-risk behaviors substantially decreased over time. Treatment factors (retention and completion) and frequency of MA use were both positively associated with increased reduction of HIV risk behaviors. Findings suggest that treatment of MA dependence is promising for reducing behaviors that have been shown to transmit HIV.

The continuing development and refinement of empirically supported interventions to increase participation in posttreatment care and promote sustained abstinence from illicit drug use is a priority for the addictions field. The purpose of this study was to assess the combined and relative effectiveness of four types of counseling styles, delivered by telephone, relative to a no-call control condition. Stimulant users (N = 302) were randomized to one of four low-cost, telephone support protocols (unstructured/non-directive, unstructured/directive, structured/non-directive, structured/directive) or a standard referral to aftercare without telephone counseling (control). All of the study participants were nearing the completion of (or had completed) an intensive phase of structured, outpatient stimulant abuse treatment. Drug use and aftercare participation were assessed at 3 and 12 months following randomization. Intent-to-treat analyses showed no significant time-by-group interactions for these primary outcomes. Subsequent analyses, however, revealed a significant difference between the aggregated call groups and the control group at the time of the 3-month follow-up. The mean ASI drug use severity composite score for subjects in the call conditions declining from .058 at baseline to .048 at 3 months, whereas the non-call/control group average score increased from .053 to .062 (χ (1) = 4.95, p = .026). A similar—and slightly stronger—effect was found when the study sample was restricted to those reporting any use during the month prior to the baseline interview (n = 152). This study provides modest support for the telephone-based counseling approaches strategies examined in this project. Subsequent research will assess interactions between patient characteristics and counseling styles, and improved identification of which treatment graduates might be more likely to benefit from this type of continuing support.

BackgroundIn the Bagnardi et al. (2001) meta-analysis, it was found that alcohol consumption increases the risk of stomach cancer (OR = 1.32 for heavy drinkers). However, it is unknown if drinking cessation reverses this alcohol-elevated risk.MethodsA systematic literature review was performed to provide the information for a meta-analysis where the dose-risk trend was estimated for years since drinking cessation and the risk of stomach cancer. A random effect generalised least squares model for trend estimation was used, employing study characteristics to control for heterogeneity.ResultsNineteen observational studies were identified in the literature review, of which five studies quantified duration of cessation and risk of stomach cancer, giving a total of 1947 cancer cases. No significant effect of drinking cessation on the risk of stomach cancer could be found (OR = 0.99 CI: 0.97-1.02).ConclusionsThis result should be interpreted with caution due to the limited number of studies in this area. Recent findings suggest a link between heavy drinking and stomach cancer, especially gastric noncardia, but not for moderate drinking. Since all but one of the included studies in this meta-analysis failed to control for consumption level, the current study could not test if the risk decline following drinking cessation differs between moderate and high consumers.

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