Drug treatment as HIV prevention: a research update. 2010

David S Metzger, and George E Woody, and Charles P O'Brien
HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Division, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. dsm@mail.med.upenn.edu

Drug use continues to be a major factor fueling the global epidemic of HIV infection. This article reviews the current literature on the ability of drug treatment programs to reduce HIV transmission among injection and noninjection drug users. Most data come from research on the treatment of opiate dependence and provide strong evidence on the effectiveness of medication-assisted treatment for reducing the frequency of drug use, risk behaviors, and HIV infections. This has been a consistent finding since the epidemic began among diverse populations and cultural settings. Use of medications other than methadone (such as buprenorphine/naloxone and naltrexone) has increased in recent years with promising data on their effectiveness as HIV prevention and as new treatment options for communities heavily affected by opiate use and HIV infection. However, few treatment interventions for stimulant abuse and dependence have shown efficacy in reducing HIV risk. The cumulative literature provides strong support of drug treatment programs for improving access and adherence to antiretroviral treatment. Drug users in substance abuse treatment are significantly more likely to achieve sustained viral suppression, making viral transmission less likely. Although there are challenges to implementing drug treatment programs for maximum impact, the scientific literature leaves no doubt about the effectiveness of drug treatment as an HIV prevention strategy.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009271 Naltrexone Derivative of noroxymorphone that is the N-cyclopropylmethyl congener of NALOXONE. It is a narcotic antagonist that is effective orally, longer lasting and more potent than naloxone, and has been proposed for the treatment of heroin addiction. The FDA has approved naltrexone for the treatment of alcohol dependence. Antaxone,Celupan,EN-1639A,Nalorex,Naltrexone Hydrochloride,Nemexin,ReVia,Trexan,EN 1639A,EN1639A
D002047 Buprenorphine A derivative of the opioid alkaloid THEBAINE that is a more potent and longer lasting analgesic than MORPHINE. It appears to act as a partial agonist at mu and kappa opioid receptors and as an antagonist at delta receptors. The lack of delta-agonist activity has been suggested to account for the observation that buprenorphine tolerance may not develop with chronic use. 6029-M,Buprenex,Buprenorphine Hydrochloride,Buprex,Prefin,RX-6029-M,Subutex,Temgesic,Temgésic,6029 M,6029M,Hydrochloride, Buprenorphine,RX 6029 M,RX6029M
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012725 Sexual Behavior Sexual activities of humans. Anal Sex,Oral Sex,Sexual Activity,Sexual Orientation,Premarital Sex Behavior,Sex Behavior,Sex Orientation,Sexual Activities,Activities, Sexual,Activity, Sexual,Behavior, Premarital Sex,Behavior, Sex,Behavior, Sexual,Orientation, Sexual,Sex, Anal,Sex, Oral
D015658 HIV Infections Includes the spectrum of human immunodeficiency virus infections that range from asymptomatic seropositivity, thru AIDS-related complex (ARC), to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). HTLV-III Infections,HTLV-III-LAV Infections,T-Lymphotropic Virus Type III Infections, Human,HIV Coinfection,Coinfection, HIV,Coinfections, HIV,HIV Coinfections,HIV Infection,HTLV III Infections,HTLV III LAV Infections,HTLV-III Infection,HTLV-III-LAV Infection,Infection, HIV,Infection, HTLV-III,Infection, HTLV-III-LAV,Infections, HIV,Infections, HTLV-III,Infections, HTLV-III-LAV,T Lymphotropic Virus Type III Infections, Human
D019380 Anti-HIV Agents Agents used to treat AIDS and/or stop the spread of the HIV infection. These do not include drugs used to treat symptoms or opportunistic infections associated with AIDS. AIDS Drug,AIDS Drugs,Anti-AIDS Agents,Anti-AIDS Drug,Anti-HIV Agent,Anti-HIV Drug,Anti-AIDS Drugs,Anti-HIV Drugs,Agent, Anti-HIV,Agents, Anti-AIDS,Agents, Anti-HIV,Anti AIDS Agents,Anti AIDS Drug,Anti AIDS Drugs,Anti HIV Agent,Anti HIV Agents,Anti HIV Drug,Anti HIV Drugs,Drug, AIDS,Drug, Anti-AIDS,Drug, Anti-HIV,Drugs, AIDS,Drugs, Anti-AIDS,Drugs, Anti-HIV
D019983 Guideline Adherence Conformity in fulfilling or following official, recognized, or institutional requirements, guidelines, recommendations, protocols, pathways, or other standards. Institutional Adherence,Policy Compliance,Protocol Compliance,Adherence, Guideline,Adherence, Institutional,Compliance, Policy,Compliance, Protocol
D040242 Risk Reduction Behavior Reduction of high-risk choices and adoption of low-risk quantity and frequency alternatives. Risk Reduction,Lifestyle Risk Reduction,Behavior, Risk Reduction,Behaviors, Risk Reduction,Lifestyle Risk Reductions,Risk Reduction Behaviors

Related Publications

David S Metzger, and George E Woody, and Charles P O'Brien
June 2014, PLoS medicine,
David S Metzger, and George E Woody, and Charles P O'Brien
November 2010, Current HIV/AIDS reports,
David S Metzger, and George E Woody, and Charles P O'Brien
March 2015, PLoS medicine,
David S Metzger, and George E Woody, and Charles P O'Brien
December 2007, PLoS medicine,
David S Metzger, and George E Woody, and Charles P O'Brien
March 2012, Current opinion in HIV and AIDS,
David S Metzger, and George E Woody, and Charles P O'Brien
April 2000, Drug and alcohol dependence,
David S Metzger, and George E Woody, and Charles P O'Brien
July 2016, Journal of women's health (2002),
David S Metzger, and George E Woody, and Charles P O'Brien
July 2002, Science & practice perspectives,
David S Metzger, and George E Woody, and Charles P O'Brien
March 2009, Journal of epidemiology and community health,
David S Metzger, and George E Woody, and Charles P O'Brien
January 2015, Journal of the International AIDS Society,
Copied contents to your clipboard!