Pubdate: Mon, 29 Oct 2007
Source: Chicago Flame (IL Edu)
Copyright: 2007 Chicago Flame
Contact: http://www.chicagoflame.com/home/lettertotheeditor/
Website: http://www.chicagoflame.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4602
Author: Frank Moraleda
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?163 (HIV/AIDS)

ADDICTS SHOW DISCRETION WITH NEEDLE SHARING, STUDY SAYS

Recreational intravenous drug usage has been regarded as one of the 
most effective methods of drug administration associated with a rapid 
effect and primary factors in disease transmittance. Despite the high 
addictiveness associated with this type of drug use, recent research 
shows that there are intriguing network patterns among users.

A cross-sectioned study regarding the social network patterns and HIV 
risk behavior among intravenous drug users was conducted this year in 
three separate Los Angeles communities by researchers JB Unger and MD 
Kipke. Participants were aged 15 through 23, and had to fulfill the 
requirement of having intravenous drug usage within three months 
and/or sexual intercourse with an IV drug user within 30 days prior 
to the conducted study.

Results of this study revealed that participants choose whom to share 
(and not share) needles with, which is somewhat unexpected 
considering the high addiction rate surrounding drugs administered 
intravenously. In both genders, participants shared needles with less 
than half of their social network. This study's results suggest a 
positive correlation between users injecting their partners (or vice 
versa) and an emotional relationship between users; in fact, insult 
may stem from requesting to use a clean needle.

Although needle-sharing occurred most when the male injected another 
person, male and female participants were more apt on sharing needles 
with someone they had sexual intercourse with, possibly indicative of 
elevated trust relations and/or the inability to simply say no to a 
sexual partner. Researchers also concluded that males were more apt 
to share needles with people who gave them emotional support, while 
females were more apt to share with people with whom they have discussed HIV.

These statistics support the hypothesis that IV drug users are more 
apt to share needles not with unfamiliar persons, but with people of 
close relation, be it emotional or physical. Conclusions of this sort 
may be of use for enhancing anticipatory programs concerning HIV.

The Community Outreach Intervention Project (COIP) is one such 
venture located at UIC's School of Public Health. Cited as a model 
program by the World Health Organization, the National Institutes of 
Health, the Secretary of Health and Human Services and a Carnegie 
Foundation commission, COIP was founded in 1986 to address HIV/AIDS 
among people who use drugs.

The project's mission includes reduction of risks in infectious 
diseases associated with illicit drug use, providing services to 
reduce the contraction of infectious diseases, and providing medical 
care or services for people with these diseases. COIP achieves these 
goals via street outreach, education, counseling, and referrals to 
other associated providers.

Collaboration with UIC's Community Clinic Network and Psychology 
Department allows COIP to offer free medical and mental healthcare 
for people living with HIV, in addition to conducting research to 
better understand the disease in the metropolitan Chicago community.

Larry Ouellet, director of the COIP UIC branch, conducted a study 
focusing on the effort to prevent HIV transmission in Chicago. This 
four-year undertaking concerned risk behavior and seroincidence 
(blood testing for HIV antibodies). Subjects answered questionnaires 
revolving around injection practices, sexual behavior, demographics, 
treatment history and drug usage. Analysis of these responses 
revealed a significant decline in HIV seroincidence, an increased 
risk for seroconversion in users sharing injection paraphernalia, and 
the suggestion that paraphernalia other than syringes or needles may 
also play a role in HIV transmission.

For more information regarding COIP, visit www.uic.edu/depts/coip/ or 
www.coip.org/.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom