Methamphetamine dependence and human immunodeficiency virus risk behavior

Abstract

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.

Amphetamine-Type Stimulants in a Group of Adults in Tehran, Iran: A Rapid Situation Assessment in Twenty-Two Districts

“…Health policy makers should consider ATS education as a health priority. Studies have shown that drug education is necessary to prevent the epidemic of any type of drug (17)(18)(19). Furthermore, law enforcement and police efforts should target ceasing ATS production and distribution in the Persian community on a large scale.…”

Health-related quality of life trajectories of methamphetamine-dependent individuals as a function of treatment completion and continued care over a 1-year period

“…Clinical and behavioral research on MA-dependent individuals indicates that they may be especially vulnerable to poor HRQOL outcomes. The chronic and long-term use of MA has been linked to substantial medical illness and disability, including cardiopulmonary consequences (chest pain, hypertension, shortness of breath, and tachycardia; Rawson, Gonzales, & Ling, 2006), impaired cognitive functioning (slower motor function, decreased memory and attention, and impulsivity; McKetin & Mattick, 1998;Semple, Zians, Grant, & Patterson, 2005), severe psychiatric comorbidity (psychosis, persecutory delusions, ideas of reference, persistent visual and auditory hallucinations, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation; Glasner-Edwards et al, in press;Meredith, Jaffe, Ang-Lee, & Saxon, 2005;Wells et al, 1989;Zweben et al, 2004), increased risky behaviors (transmission and infection of HIV; hepatitis A, B, and C; and other sexually transmitted infections; Gonzales et al, 2008;Rawson et al, 2008), and substantial criminal involvement (Evans & Longshore, 2004;Farabee, Prendergast, & Cartier, 2002;Griffin, Rabkin, Remein, & Williams, 1998;Iguchi et al, 2002).…”

Methamphetamine use and sexual risk behaviour in Cape Town, South Africa: A review of data from 8 studies conducted between 2004 and 2007

“…no condom use and anal sex) than persons who use other drugs. 7,8 The analysis of the findings from the eight studies conducted in Cape Town, however, found less consistent findings of an association between MA use and having sex without a condom, with several studies indicating an association 10,11,12,15 and others not. 3,10,15 The one study which found that MA use was more associated with condom use 11 , also found that MA users were less likely to have sex under the influence of alcohol or other drugs in contrast to three studies that found the opposite.…”

“…8 Research among heterosexual populations has, for example, shown that MAdependent users have more sexual partners and participate in more risky sexual behaviour (i.e. no condom use and anal sex) than persons who use other drugs.…”

“…6,7 It has also been associated with high levels of sexual risk behaviour, including unprotected sex, multiple partnering, and anal sex. 8 In conclusion, there is a high and increasing prevalence of HIV in this part of South Africa, resulting mainly from an epidemic driven by heterosexual transmission 9 ; there is also a high demand for substance abuse treatment for MA-related problems, which is indicative of high levels of use in the community; and there is evidence for an effect of MA use on sexual risk behaviour. We thus decided to investigate the linkage between MA use and sexual risk behaviour among drug user groups in Cape Town.…”