What we have learned from research about the prevention of HIV transmission among drug abusers. 1998

Z Sloboda
National Institute on Drug Abuse, Division of Epidemiology and Prevention Research, Rockville Md 20857, USA. zs6n@nih.gov

OBJECTIVE After more than 10 years of experience conducting behavioral changes interventions and with accumulated research results, several emergent principle have been identified for the effective prevention of HIV-transmission among drug abusers. In August 1997, a symposium was held in Flagstaff, Arizona, to achieve tow major purposes: (1) to synthesize the finding from HIV prevention research conducted to date for interventions targeting drug abusers and (2) to extract a preliminary set of prevention principles that could be linked to effectiveness across at least two or more studies. This chapter summarizes the key findings of that symposium. METHODS Major finding were abstracted from the conclusion sections of the presentations and from the chapters included in this special volume. Many consistencies regarding intervention approaches across studies were noted. These findings are discussed under the following headings: General Observations, Engagement, Multiple Interventions, Intervention Issues, Methodological Issues, and Translation from Research to Practice. Suggested areas for further research are also presented and discussed. RESULTS Ten principles that have implications for HIV prevention interventions emerged from this preliminary review of the research. These principles engage drug users into the intervention; specify target behaviors and attitudes for intervention; suggest setting to optimize outreach: and recommend booster approaches to reinforce knowledge, skills, and attitudes learned through the intervention. CONCLUSIONS The drug abuse community is threatened by the incursion of HIV and by the hepatitis viruses A, B, and C. The same behaviors are involved in transmitting all of these viruses. The first generation of research to assess the impact of a variety of interventions delivered among drug abusers to prevent HIV has shown consistently favorable findings, proving that drug abusers can be helped to change their risky drug-using behaviors and, to a lesser extent, their risky sexual behaviors. The need to translate these findings for community practitioners is heightened by the devastating impact of HIV and AIDS.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D011322 Primary Prevention Specific practices for the prevention of disease or mental disorders in susceptible individuals or populations. These include HEALTH PROMOTION, including mental health; protective procedures, such as COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CONTROL; and monitoring and regulation of ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS. Primary prevention is to be distinguished from SECONDARY PREVENTION and TERTIARY PREVENTION. Prevention, Primary,Disease Prevention, Primary,Prevention, Primordial,Primordial Prevention,Disease Preventions, Primary,Preventions, Primordial,Primary Disease Prevention,Primary Disease Preventions,Primordial Preventions
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014481 United States A country in NORTH AMERICA between CANADA and MEXICO.
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
D019966 Substance-Related Disorders Disorders related to substance use or abuse. Chemical Dependence,Drug Abuse,Drug Addiction,Drug Dependence,Drug Habituation,Drug Use Disorder,Drug Use Disorders,Organic Mental Disorders, Substance-Induced,Substance Abuse,Substance Dependence,Substance Related Disorder,Substance Use,Substance Use Disorder,Substance Use Disorders,Prescription Drug Abuse,Substance Addiction,Abuse, Drug,Abuse, Prescription Drug,Abuse, Substance,Addiction, Drug,Addiction, Substance,Chemical Dependences,Dependence, Chemical,Dependence, Drug,Dependence, Substance,Dependences, Chemical,Disorder, Drug Use,Disorder, Substance Related,Disorder, Substance Use,Disorders, Substance Related,Drug Abuse, Prescription,Habituation, Drug,Organic Mental Disorders, Substance Induced,Related Disorder, Substance,Related Disorders, Substance,Substance Abuses,Substance Uses,Use, Substance

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