Behavioral risk reduction in a declining HIV epidemic: injection drug users in New York City, 1990-1997

• Published in: American journal of public health (1971) 2000-07, Vol.90 (7), p.1112-1116
• Main Authors: Des Jarlais, C, Perlis, T, Friedman, SR, Chapman, T, Kwok, J, Rockwell, R, Paone, D, Milliken, J, Monterroso, E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Behavior; Biological and medical sciences; Correlates; Decline; Disease Outbreaks - prevention & control; Disease Outbreaks - statistics & numerical data; Drug abuse; Epidemics; Female; HIV; HIV Infections - epidemiology; HIV Infections - prevention & control; HIV Infections - transmission; HIV Seroprevalence; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Intravenous drug addicts; Logistic Models; Male; Medical sciences; Methadone; Needle Sharing - trends; New York City; New York City - epidemiology; Public health; Reduction; Risk behaviour; Risk-Taking; Sexual Behavior; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - virology; USA; USA, New York, New York City; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids
• ISSN: 0090-0036; 1541-0048
• DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.90.7.1112

This study assessed trends in HIV risk behaviors among injection drug users in New York City from 1990 to 1997. Injection drug users were recruited continuously from a large drug detoxification treatment program (N = 2588) and a research storefront located in a high-drug-use area (N = 2701). Informed consent was obtained, and a trained interviewer administered a structured interview covering sociodemographics, drug use history, HIV risk behavior, and participation in syringe exchange. Trends were assessed for 5 risk behaviors in the 6-month period before the interview. The 3 injection risk behaviors declined significantly over time at each site (all P < .01). When data were pooled across sites, all 5 risk behaviors declined significantly over time (all P < .01). Participation in syringe exchange programs and in HIV counseling and testing increased greatly from 1990 to 1997. The continuing risk reduction among injection drug users indicates a "declining phase" in the large HIV epidemic in New York City. HIV prevention programs appear to be making an important contribution to the declining phase.