Non-injection Drug Use Research Articles

Home-Based Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy at an Urban Safety Net Hospital: Comparing Outcomes in Persons With and Without Noninjection Drug Use.

As stimulant use and infections among persons using drugs rise nationally, evidence remains limited on how best to deliver outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) to persons using noninjection drugs. In an urban safety net population including persons using noninjection drugs, home-based OPAT completion rates were similarly high as those of non-drug-using individuals.

Longitudinal patterns of illicit drug use, antiretroviral therapy exposure and plasma HIV-1 RNA viral load among HIV-positive people who use illicit drugs.

HIV-positive people who use illicit drugs (PWUD) experience elevated rates of HIV-associated morbidity and mortality compared with members of other key affected populations. Although suboptimal levels of access and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) are common among HIV-positive PWUD, there is a need for studies investigating the possible biological impacts of noninjection illicit drug use among people living with HIV in real-world settings. We accessed data from the ACCESS study, an ongoing prospective cohort of illicit drug users with systematic HIV viral load monitoring in a setting with universal care and ART dispensation records. We used multivariable generalized linear mixed models to estimate the longitudinal associations between noninjection use of crack cocaine, powder cocaine, opioids, methamphetamine, cannabis and alcohol on plasma HIV-1 RNA viral load, adjusted for ART exposure and relevant confounders. Between 2005 and 2018, 843 individuals from the ACCESS cohort were included and contributed to 8698 interviews. At baseline, the mean age was 43 years, 566 (67%) reported male sex and 659 (78%) used crack cocaine in the previous 6 months. In multivariable models adjusted for ART exposure, only crack cocaine use in the last 6 months was found to be significantly associated with higher HIV viral load. We observed significantly higher HIV viral load during periods of crack cocaine use independent of ART exposure. Our findings support further research to investigate the possible biological mechanisms of this effect.

Transmission of hepatitis C virus in HIV-positive and PrEP-using MSM in England.

We sought to characterize risk factors and patterns of HCV transmission amongst men who have sex with men (MSM). MSM with recently acquired HCV (AHCV) were prospectively recruited ('clinic cohort') between January and September 2017. Clinical data and risk behaviours were identified and blood obtained for HCV whole genome sequencing. Phylogenetic analyses were performed, using sequences from this cohort and two other AHCV cohorts, to identify transmission clusters. Sixteen (40.0%) men in the clinic cohort were HIV-negative MSM. HIV-negative MSM were younger than HIV-positive MSM; most (81.3%) had taken HIV PrEP in the preceding year. Eighteen men (45.0%) reported injection drug use; most (34, 85.0%) reported noninjection drug use in the last year. Most in both groups reported condomless anal sex, fisting and sex in a group environment. Few (7, 17.5%) men thought partners may have had HCV. There were 52 sequences in the HCV genotype 1a phylogeny, 18 from the clinic cohort and 34 from other AHCV cohorts; 47 (90.4%) clustered with ≥1 other sequence. There were 7 clusters of 2-27 sequences; 6 clusters contained HIV-negative and HIV-positive MSM and 1 cluster only HIV-positive MSM. Four of these clusters were part of larger clusters first described in 2007. PrEP-using MSM are at risk of HCV, sharing similar risk factors to HIV-positive MSM. Phylogenetics highlights that PrEP-using and HIV-positive MSM are involved in the same HCV transmission networks. Few men demonstrated HCV awareness and risk reduction strategies should be expanded.

Polysubstance use in rural West Virginia: Associations between latent classes of drug use, overdose, and take-home naloxone

BackgroundRural communities in the United States have been disproportionately affected by the opioid crisis. Little research has explored the relationship between polysubstance use and overdose experiences among people who inject drugs (PWID) in rural communities. We sought to identify classes of polysubstance drug use among rural PWID and evaluate the associations between polysubstance drug use classes, recent overdose experiences, and receipt of take-home naloxone (THN). MethodsWe surveyed 420 PWID (June-July 2018) who had injected drugs in the previous 6 months in Cabell County, West Virginia. Participants were recruited from the local syringe services program and through street-based recruitment. We conducted a latent class analysis using 9 measures of injection and non-injection drug use and tested for associations with having experienced an overdose in the past 6 months and having received THN in the past 6 months. ResultsWe identified four substance use classes in our sample: polydrug/polyroute use (35.0% of the sample), polyroute stimulant/injection opioid use (33.3%), polyroute stimulant use (20.3%), and injection opioid use (11.3%). Overall, 42.6% of the sample had experienced an overdose in the past 6 months. The classes differed in terms of overdose (χ=91.53, p<0.001), with the polydrug/polyroute use class having the highest probability of overdose and the polyroute stimulants class having the lowest. Only 46.5% of participants had received THN, and probabilities differed between classes (χ=21.93, p<0.001). The polyroute stimulants/injection opioid use and polydrug/polyroute use classes had the highest levels of THN receipt while the polyroute stimulants use class had the least. ConclusionAmong rural PWID in West Virginia, polysubstance use was prevalent and associated with overdose and THN acquisition. These analyses demonstrate the importance of scaling up naloxone distribution in rural settings. Overdose prevention initiatives are reaching persons at high risk of overdose, but expansion of services is needed.

Struggling bodies at the border: migration, violence and HIV vulnerability in the Mexico/Guatemala border region

The Mexico–Guatemala border is the site of significant movement of people whose principal destination is the USA. The first step, to cross Mexico, is considered as one of the most dangerous routes in the world for undocumented migrants. For some male migrants and displaced persons from Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala, initiating sex work in the Mexican border city of Tapachula has become a way to earn money to survive during the trip northward – providing funds to keep traveling and decrease the danger of being killed or kidnaped by organized crime groups. Non-injected drug use during sex work with men and/or women is a common praxis for this purpose, and is linked to HIV risk activities such as unprotected sex. Our study is based on ethnographic fieldwork with observation and interviews and within a relational approach understanding the processes subject/structure, sociopolitical/cultural and global/local, not as oppositions, rather as linkages visible through actors’ points of view and praxis. The productions of politics and cultures related to structural vulnerability to HIV infection are embedded in local and global borderization processes where legal and illegal transnational forces, states’ frameworks and social groups play a linked role. The economies of structural, symbolic and direct violence affect migratory patterns, institutional interactions and social and cultural relations with the local population. In this context, social representations and praxis about unprotected sex and drug use are the locus of struggling bodies at the border.

Drug-related and psychopathological symptoms in HIV-positive men who have sex with men who inject drugs during sex (slamsex): Data from the U-SEX GESIDA 9416 Study.

ObjectivesSexualized intravenous drug use, also known as slamsex, seems to be increasing among HIV-positive men who have sex with men (MSM). Physical and psychopathological symptoms have previously been reported in this population, although research on the subject of slamsex is scarce. The objectives of our study were to describe the psychopathological background of a sample of HIV-positive MSM who engaged in slamsex during the previous year and to compare physical, psychopathological, and drug-related symptoms between these participants and those who engaged in non-injecting sexualized drug use.Design and methodsParticipants (HIV-positive MSM) were recruited from the U-Sex study in 22 HIV clinics in Madrid during 2016–17. All participants completed an anonymous cross-sectional online survey on sexual behavior and recreational drug use. When participants met the inclusion criteria, physicians offered them the opportunity to participate and gave them a card with a unique code and a link to access the online survey. The present analysis is based on HIV-positive MSM who had engaged in slamsex and non-injecting sexualized drug use.ResultsThe survey sample comprised 742 participants. Of all the participants who completed the survey, 216 (29.1%) had engaged in chemsex, and of these, 34 (15.7%) had engaged in slamsex. Participants who engaged in slamsex were more likely to have current psychopathology (depression, anxiety, and drug-related disorders) than participants who engaged in non-injecting sexualized drug use. In addition, participants who engaged in slamsex more frequently reported high-risk sexual behaviors and polydrug use and were more often diagnosed with sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and hepatitis C than those who did not inject drugs. Compared with participants who did not inject drugs, participants who engaged in slamsex experienced more severe drug-related symptoms (withdrawal and dependence), symptoms of severe intoxication (loss of consciousness), and severe psychopathological symptoms during or after slamsex (eg, paranoid thoughts and suicidal behaviors).ConclusionSlamsex is closely associated with current psychiatric disorders and severe drug-related and psychiatric symptoms.

753. Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy (OPAT) in a Large Urban Safety Net Hospital Setting: Therapy for Vulnerable Populations at Home

BackgroundAdoption of outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT) is accelerating due to proven safety and value, but experience in safety-net settings remains limited, especially in those with history of illicit drug use. Emerging reports from safety-net settings have featured OPAT delivered in nursing facilities, respite care centers, and infusion centers (including some persons who inject drugs [PWID]), but literature is sparse on home-based OPAT for vulnerable patients. In a new home antibiotics program at San Francisco General Hospital, we sought to describe early safety and efficacy outcomes among adults without active injection drug use but with high rates of substance use and comorbid illnesses.MethodsWe conducted a cohort study of patients discharged from a large urban county medical center and enrolled in an outpatient IV antibiotics program from September 2017 to January 2019. We collected demographic and clinical data and computed outcomes of safety (30- and 90-day readmission for infection, vascular access complications, and death) and efficacy (completion of antibiotic therapy).ResultsOverall, 47 courses of antibiotics were given to 45 patients. Of these, 39/47 (83%) of antibiotic courses were administered in a residential setting, and 8/47 (17%) via the hospital outpatient infusion center. Comorbid conditions were common, including 9/45 (20%) with hepatitis B/C and 8/45 (18%) with HIV (Table 1). Present or prior illicit drug use was seen in 17/45 patients (38%), including recent or active illicit drug use in 11/45 (24%) (Table 1). Most common indications for antibiotics were osteomyelitis and bacteremia (Table 2). Efficacy in the OPAT program was high: overall, 44/47 (94%) courses of outpatient IV antibiotics were completed, and the 30-day and 90-day readmission rates were 13% and 20% respectively, with zero 30-day readmissions related to OPAT (Table 3).ConclusionAn OPAT program embedded within a safety net hospital system delivering care in patients’ homes had high completion rate and low readmission rate, despite patients’ high prevalence of underlying comorbid conditions and noninjection illicit drug use. Home-based OPAT should be considered for broader adoption in safety-net hospital systems. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Cause of death among HIV patients in London in 2016.

Since 2013, the London HIV Mortality Review Group has conducted annual reviews of deaths among people with HIV to reduce avoidable mortality. All London HIV care Trusts reported data on 2016 patient deaths in 2017. Deaths were submitted using a modified Causes of Death in HIV reporting form and categorized by a specialist HIV pathologist and two HIV clinicians. There were 206 deaths reported; 77% were among men. Median age at death was 56years. Cause was established for 82% of deaths, with non-AIDS-related malignancies and AIDS-defining illnesses being the most common causes reported. Risk factors in the year before death included: tobacco smoking (37%), excessive alcohol consumption (19%), non-injecting drug use (10%), injecting drug use (7%) and opioid substitution therapy (6%). Thirty-nine per cent of patients had a history of depression, 33% chronic hypertension, 27% dyslipidaemia, 17% coinfection with hepatitis B virus and/or hepatitis C virus and 14% diabetes mellitus. At the time of death, 81% of patients were on antiretroviral therapy (ART), 61% had a CD4 count <350 cells/μL, and 24% had a viral load ≥200 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL. Thirty-six per cent of deaths were unexpected; 61% of expected deaths were in hospital. Two-thirds of expected deaths had a prior end-of-life care discussion documented. In 2016, most deaths were attributable to non-AIDS-related conditions and the majority of patients were on ART and virally suppressed. However, several potentiallypreventable deaths were identified and underlying risk factors were common. As London HIV patients are not representative of people with HIV in the UK, a national mortality review is warranted.

High hepatitis C virus infection among female sex workers in Viet Nam: strong correlation with HIV and injection drug use.

ObjectiveThe World Health Organization’s guidelines on viral hepatitis testing and treatment recommend prioritizing high prevalence groups. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection disproportionately affects people who inject drugs and men who have sex with men, but data on female sex workers (FSW) are limited. The study aimed to determine active HCV infection and risk factors associated with HCV exposure among Vietnamese FSW.MethodsWe surveyed 1886 women aged ≥ 18 years from Haiphong, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City who had sold sex in the last month. We tested for HCV antibody and HCV core antigen as markers for exposure to HCV and active infection, respectively.ResultsAcross these provinces, high prevalence of HCV exposure (8.8–30.4%) and active infection (3.6–22.1%) were observed. Significant associations with HCV exposure were HIV infection (aOR = 23.7; 95% CI: 14.8–37.9), injection drug use (aOR = 23.3; 95% CI: 13.1–41.4), history of compulsory detention (aOR = 2.5; 95% CI: 1.4–4.2) and having more than 10 sex clients in the last month (aOR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.2–3.2). Among FSW who reported never injecting drugs, HIV infection (aOR = 24.2; 95% CI: 14.8–39.4), a history of non-injection drug use (aOR = 3.3, CI: 1.8–5.7), compulsory detention (aOR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.2–4.0) and having over 10 sex clients in the last month (aOR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.3–3.7) were independently associated with HCV exposure.DiscussionFSW have elevated HCV risks through sex- and drug-related pathways. These findings highlight the need to offer FSW-targeted HCV interventions and ensure their access to HIV prevention and treatment.

Prevalence and correlates of HIV infection among people who use drugs in Cambodia: a cross-sectional survey using respondent driven sampling method

BackgroundMost of studies on the relationship between drug use and HIV have focused largely on people who inject drugs. Non-injecting drug use is much more common than injecting drug use, and although it can also predispose people to HIV infection, it is not widely explored. We therefore conducted this study to explore the prevalence of HIV and identify risk factors for HIV infection among people who use non-injecting drugs (PWUD) in Cambodia.MethodsThis cross-sectional study was conducted in 2017. The Respondent Driven Sampling method was used to recruit the study participants who were interviewed face-to-face using a structured questionnaire. Blood samples were collected for HIV and syphilis testing. A multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify risk factors associated with HIV infection.ResultsIn total, 1367 PWUD were included in this study, whose mean age was 28.0 (SD = 7.7) years. The majority (95.1%) of the participants used methamphetamine. The prevalence of HIV was 5.7, and 35.2% of the identified HIV-positive PWUD were not aware of their status prior to the survey. After adjustment for other covariates, HIV infection remained significantly associated with being in the age group of ≥35 (AOR = 2.34, 95% CI = 1.04–6.11), having lower level of formal education of ≤ 6 years (AOR = 2.26, 95% CI = 1.04–5.15), living on the streets (AOR = 2.82, 95% CI = 1.10–7.23), perception that their HIV risk was higher as compared to that of the general population (AOR = 3.18, 95% CI = 1.27–8.62), having used injecting drugs in lifetime (AOR = 3.8, 95% CI = 1.36–4.56), and having cuts or sores around the genital area in the past 12 months (AOR = 3.42, 95% CI = 1.09–6.33).ConclusionsThe prevalence of HIV among PWUD in this study was more than 10 times higher than the prevalence in the general adult population. The findings reveal a higher vulnerability to HIV infection among specific sub-populations of PWUD, such as those who are homeless, who may benefit from tailored interventions that respond to their specific needs. To enhance HIV case finding, stratification of PWUD to facilitate HIV risk profiling based on socio-economic profiles and drug injection history is recommended.

Real-world study of hepatitis C treatment with direct-acting antivirals in patients with drug abuse and opioid agonist therapy

Background: Limited data exist evaluating the treatment outcomes with direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) in patients with drug use in the community setting. We aim to assess the treatment response of DAAs in this subset of patients with or without the opioid agonist therapy (OAT).Methods: All the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infected patients treated with DAAs were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were stratified into two groups by the presence or absence of abusing alcohol, cocaine and heroin. All the patients who were assigned to the abuser group had positive urine toxicology with one of the drugs during the DAA treatment. The primary assessment was the sustained virologic response (SVR12) at 12 weeks post-treatment (SVR12).Results: Among the 314 patients, 152, 128 and 58 were patients with drug use, non-drug use and receiving OAT. Among the patients with injectable or non-injectable drug use treatment, completion rate was 99% (151/152) and SVR12 was 93.4%. Among the patients with no drug use treatment, completion rate was 95% (122/128) and SVR12 was 88.3%. Among patients receiving OAT alone, SVR12 was 100%, and in patients with OAT + other drug use, SVR12 was 96.5%. None of the patients included in this study discontinued the treatment due to adverse events associated with treatment medications.Conclusions: In this community-based study, DAAs are safe, effective with high overall SVR12 in patients with active drug use (injectable and non-injectable) and OAT enrolled patients. These results support the removal of drug use as a barrier to DAA therapy.

Drug Users and HIV Risk in Guatemala City, Guatemala

Injection drug use is a known risk factor for HIV transmission, but research suggests non-injection drug use also heightens HIV risk. This study measures HIV prevalence and examines sexual behavior among drug users in Guatemala City. The multiplier method and respondent-driven sampling (RDS) were used to estimate the size of the population, generating a representative sample of 299 drug users 18+ years old living in Guatemala City. The study found that drug users tended to be males with low education and income; 6% were HIV positive. Most drug users reported sexual behaviors that heightened the risk of HIV transmission like multiple sexual partners, buying or selling sex, low rates of consistent condom use, and exchanging sex for drugs. HIV prevalence is low in Guatemala, but non-injection drug use likely increases behaviors that heighten risk of HIV transmission.

383. An Increased Rate of Candida parapsilosis Infective Endocarditis Is Associated With Injection Drug Use

Background Candida parapsilosis fungemia typically occurs in patients with intravascular catheters or prosthetic devices. In 2017, we noted an increase in C. parapsilosis infective endocarditis (IE).MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed C. parapsilosis fungemia and IE from January 2015 to February 2018. Species were identified using MALDI-TOF, and confirmed by ITS sequencing.ResultsBetween 2010 and 2017, there was no increase in cases of C. parapsilosis fungemia (mean: 13/year), but there was a significant increase in C. parapsilosis IE (P = 0.048) (Figure 1). From January 2015 to February 2018, 22% (12/54) of C. parapsilosis fungemia was complicated by IE. Demographics of C. parapsilosis fungemia included: community-acquired infection (87%), presence of vascular catheters (80%), opiate noninjection drug use (non-IDU, 44%), IDU (20%), and presence of cardiac devices (18%). Ninety-one percent (49/54) of C. parapsilosis fungemia was caused by C. parapsilosis sensu strictu (Cpss); C. orthopsilosis and C. metapsilosis accounted for 4% (2/54) each (1 isolate could not be subtyped). Cpss, C. orthopsilosis, and C. metapsilosis accounted for 83% (10/12), 8% (1/12), and 8% (1/12) of IE, respectively. Ninety-two% (11/12) of C. parapsilosis IE was left-sided, and 33% (4/12) involved multiple valves. Risk factors for C. parapsilosis IE were past or active IDU (P < 0.001), community-acquired fungemia (P = 0.02), prosthetic heart valve (P = 0.01) or implanted cardiac device (P = 0.03). Receipt of an antibiotic within 30 days was a risk for C. parapsilosis fungemia without IE (P = 0.001). Median age for IE vs. fungemia was 38 vs. 57 years (P = 0.09). By multivariate logistic regression, IDU (P < 0.0001), prosthetic valve (P = 0.006) or implanted cardiac device (P = 0.04) were independent risks for C. parapsilosis IE. 70% (7/10), 20% (2/10), and 10% (1/10) of patients with IDU and C. parapsilosis IE primarily used heroin, buprenorphine/naltrexone, and cocaine, respectively. 50% (6/12) of patients with C. parapsilosis IE underwent surgery; most common initial AF regimens were caspofungin and amphotericin B. Nonsurgical patients were suppressed with long-term azole; one relapsed requiring surgery. Thirty-day and in-hospital mortality for patients with fungemia vs. IE were 32% vs. 17% and 26% vs. 17%, respectively.Conclusion C. parapsilosis IE has emerged at our center. Unique aspects of C. parapsilosis pathogenesis that may account for emergence are a propensity to colonize skin, adhere to prosthetic material and form biofilm. C. parapsilosis IE may be an under-appreciated consequence of IDU and opioid abuse. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Hepatitis A Virus Outbreaks Associated with Drug Use and Homelessness - California, Kentucky, Michigan, and Utah, 2017.

During 2017, CDC received 1,521 reports of acute hepatitis A virus (HAV) infections from California, Kentucky, Michigan, and Utah; the majority of infections were among persons reporting injection or noninjection drug use or homelessness. Investigations conducted by local and state health departments indicated that direct person-to-person transmission of HAV infections was occurring, differing from other recent, large HAV outbreaks attributed to consumption of contaminated commercial food products. Outbreaks with direct HAV transmission among persons reporting drug use or homelessness signals a shift in HAV infection epidemiology in the United States, and vaccination of these populations at high risk can prevent future outbreaks.

Direct-acting antiviral treatment for hepatitis C among people who use or inject drugs: a systematic review and meta-analysis

There are concerns around poorer response to direct-acting antiviral (DAA) therapy for hepatitis C virus infection among people who use drugs. This systematic review assessed DAA treatment outcomes among people with recent drug use and those receiving opioid substitution therapy. Bibliographic databases and conference presentations were searched for observational studies and clinical trials assessing DAA treatment completion, sustained virological response (SVR), and loss to follow-up among people with recent drug use (injecting or non-injecting) and those receiving opioid substitution therapy. Meta-analysis was used to pool estimates and meta-regression to explore heterogeneity. 38 eligible studies, with 3634 participants, were included. The definition of recent drug use varied across studies, with drug use in the past 6 months and at the initiation of or during DAA therapy most commonly used. Among individuals with recent injecting or non-injecting drug use (21 studies; 1408 participants), treatment completion was 97·5% (95% CI 96·6-98·3) and SVR was 87·7% (95% CI 84·2-91·3). Among individuals receiving opioid substitution therapy (36 studies; 2987 participants), treatment completion was 97·4% (95% CI 96·5-98·3) and SVR was 90·7% (95% CI 88·5-93·0). Among individuals with recent injecting drug use (eight studies; 670 participants), treatment completion was 96·9% (95% CI 95·6-98·2) and SVR was 87·4% (95% CI 82·0-92·8). In meta-regression analysis, clinical trials (vs observational studies; adjusted odd ratio 2·18, 95% CI 1·27-3·75; p=0·006) and higher mean or median age (1·07, 1·02-1·12; p=0·008) were significantly associated with higher SVR. Clinical trials (0·45, 0·22-0·94; p=0·033) and older age (0·94, 0·88-0·99; p=0·034) were also significantly associated with a lower proportion of participants lost to follow-up. Response to DAA therapy was favourable among people with recent drug use (including those who inject) and those receiving opioid substitution therapy, supporting broadening access in these populations. The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, and National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia.

Hepatitis C virus prevalence and estimated incidence among new injectors during the opioid epidemic in New York City, 2000–2017: Protective effects of non-injecting drug use

ObjectiveAssess hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence and incidence among person who began injecting drugs during the opioid epidemic in New York City (NYC) and identify possible new directions for reducing HCV infection among persons who inject drugs. Methods846 persons who began injecting drugs between 2000 and 2017 were recruited from persons entering Mount Sinai Beth Israel substance use treatment programs. A structured interview was administered and HCV antibody testing conducted. Protective effects of non-injecting drug use were examined among persons who “reversed transitioned” to non-injecting drug use and persons who used non-injected heroin in addition to injecting. ResultsParticipants were 79% male, 41% White, 15% African-American, 40% Latinx, with a mean age of 35. Of those who began injecting in 2000 or later, 97 persons (11%) “reverse transitioned” back to non-injecting drug use. Reverse transitioning was strongly associated with lower HCV seroprevalence (30% versus 47% among those who continued injecting, p < 0.005). Among those who continued injecting, HCV seropositivity was inversely associated with current non-injecting heroin use (AOR = 0.72, 95%CI 0.52-0.99). HCV incidence among persons continuing to inject was estimated as 13/100 person-years. HCV seropositive persons currently injecting cocaine were particularly likely to report behavior likely to transmit HCV. ConclusionsSimilar to other locations in the US, NYC is experiencing high rates of HCV infection among persons who have begun injecting since 2000. New interventions that facilitate substitution of non-injecting for injecting drug use and that reduce transmission behavior among HCV seropositives may provide additional methods for reducing HCV transmission.

Regular MDMA use is associated with decreased risk of drug injection among street-involved youth who use illicit drugs

ObjectivesChildhood trauma is common among street-involved youth and is associated with injection drug use. Illicit 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) use is also common among street-involved youth, and data suggest this substance has clinical utility in management of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and associated harms. Despite this, little is known about co-occurring patterns of MDMA use and injection drug use. MethodsData were derived from a prospective cohort of street-involved youth using illicit drugs in Vancouver, Canada. Using multivariable generalized estimating equation logistic regression, we examined the association between MDMA use and the use of injection drugs, adjusting for confounders such as polysubstance use and sociodemographic factors. Results4941 surveys from 1208 participants between September 2005 and May 2015 were included. Of these, 829 (68.6%) were male, 815 (67.5%) reported white ethnicity, and median age was 21.7 years. Overall, 599 (49.6%) participants reported MDMA use, 544 (45.0%) reported injection drug use, and 244 (20.2%) reported concurrent MDMA and injection drug use at least once during the study period. In multivariable analyses, regular MDMA use was significantly negatively associated with injection drug use (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.46–0.69). DiscussionAfter accounting for socio-demographic factors and polysubstance use, periods of reported regular MDMA use were negatively associated with reported injection drug use among this cohort. These findings suggest that, unlike the use of most other non-injection drugs, illicit MDMA use does not appear to promote injection drug use but rather is associated with a reduced likelihood of injection drug use.

Past year and prior incarceration and HIV transmission risk among HIV-positive men who have sex with men in the US

ABSTRACTThree quarters of new HIV infections in the US are among men who have sex with men (MSM). In other populations, incarceration is a social determinant of elevations in viral load and HIV-related substance use and sex risk behavior. There has been limited research on incarceration and these HIV transmission risk determinants in HIV-positive MSM. We used the Veterans Aging Cohort Study (VACS) 2011-2012 follow-up survey to measure associations between past year and prior (more than one year ago) incarceration and HIV viral load and substance use and sex risk behavior among HIV-positive MSM (N = 532). Approximately 40% had ever been incarcerated, including 9% in the past year. In analyses adjusting for sociodemographic factors, past year and prior incarceration were strongly associated with detectable viral load (HIV-1 RNA >500 copies/mL) (past year adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 3.50 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.59, 7.71; prior AOR: 2.48 95% CI: 1.44, 4.29) and past 12 month injection drug use (AORs > 6), multiple sex partnerships (AORs > 1.8), and condomless sex in the context of substance use (AORs > 3). Past year incarceration also was strongly associated with alcohol and non-injection drug use (AOR > 2.5). Less than one in five HIV-positive MSM recently released from incarceration took advantage of a jail/prison re-entry health care program available to veterans. We need to reach HIV-positive MSM leaving jails and prisons to improve linkage to care and clinical outcomes and reduce transmission risk upon release.

Getting to Zero: We Can't Do It Without Addressing Substance Use.

HIV elimination by 2030 cannot occur without attention to substance use. It cuts across risk groups and affects sexual risk behavior, treatment adherence, and systemic processes such as immunity and inflammation. There continues to be often limited attention to non-injection drug use and the syndemic character of HIV and substance use. There is a need for a more comprehensive approach that addresses the multiple influences of substance use on HIV prevention and care, integrating this into evidence-based services and building on the successes of comprehensive Seek, Test, Treat, and Retain approaches to substantially reducing new HIV cases among drug users.

Use of Nonantiretroviral Medications That May Impact Neurocognition: Patterns and Predictors in a Large, Long-Term HIV Cohort Study.

Neurocognitive impairment is a frequent and often disabling comorbidity of HIV infection. In addition to antiretroviral therapies, individuals with HIV infection may commonly use nonantiretroviral medications that are known to cause neurocognitive adverse effects (NC-AE). The contribution of NC-AE to neurocognitive impairment is rarely considered in the context of HIV and could explain part of the variability in neurocognitive performance among individuals with HIV. Women's Interagency HIV Study, a prospective, multisite, observational study of US women with and without HIV. After a literature review, 79 medications (excluding statins) with NC-AE were identified and reported by Women's Interagency HIV Study participants. We examined factors associated with self-reported use of these medications over a 10-year period. Generalized estimating equations for binary outcomes were used to assess sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical characteristics associated with NC-AE medication use. Three thousand three hundred women (71% with HIV) and data from ∼42,000 visits were studied. HIV infection was associated with NC-AE medication use (odds ratio = 1.52; 95% confidence interval: 1.35 to 1.71). After adjustment for HIV infection status, other predictors of NC-AE medication use included having health insurance, elevated depressive symptoms, prior clinical AIDS, noninjection recreational drug use, and an annual household income of <$12,000 (Ps < 0.004). NC-AE medication use was less likely among women who drank 1-7 or 8-12 alcoholic drinks/week (vs. abstaining) (P < 0.04). HIV infection was associated with NC-AE medication use, which may influence determinations of HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment. Providers should consider the impact of NC-AE medications when evaluating patients with HIV and concurrent neurocognitive symptoms.