HIV Risk Behaviors in Adolescent and Young Adult Substance Users Undergoing Treatment

Abstract

Among substance abusing youth HIV remains a threat due in part to the multiple risk factors often found in this population. Therefore drug detoxification facilities are important sites in which to characterize the extent of drug and sexual co-occurring risk behaviors among patients. The authors distributed a self-administered anonymous questionnaire to patients at two state-funded Rhode Island detoxification facilities to examine the HIV-related risk behaviors of adolescent and young adult substance abusers and to examine the influence of gender on these behaviors. The authors found that 62% of all respondents reported injecting drugs in the past 6 months and 67% of current injecting drug users (IDUs) reported sharing syringes in the past 6 months. 46% and 70% of sexually active youth reported never using condoms in the past 6 months for vaginal and anal sex respectively. Females were significantly more likely to report a lifetime history of injecting drugs exchanging sex for drugs or money and having sex with an IDU. The high rates of sharing injection equipment and the prevalence of risky sexual activity underscore the need to develop interventions that specifically address the needs of young substance abusing males and females. (authors)