Concordance between drug users' and their network members' reported drug use and HIV status: implications to HIV prevention

Intravenous drug-users comprise a major group of HIV-infected individuals in the developed world and, whilst progression of HIV disease in them appears little different from other risk groups, their medical presentations may be altered by continuing drug use. Drug-users are particularly susceptible to bacterial infections irrespective of their HIV status; they may present with symptoms directly caused by their drugs, which can be difficult to differentiate from non-drug-related causes and may closely resemble symptoms directly attributable to HIV. In addition, the life style associated with drug use can make compliance difficult, but in clinics combining HIV care and methadone prescribing these problems can be overcome.

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Framingham Heart Study (FHS) 10-Year Cardiovascular Risk Is Associated With Marijuana Use in the Miami Adult Studies on HIV (MASH) Cohort

Current Developments in Nutrition ◽

10.1093/cdn/nzab035_011 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. 103-103

Author(s):

Jose Bastida Rodriguez ◽

Jacqueline Hernandez ◽

Colby Teeman ◽

Yongjun Huang ◽

Qingyun Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Use ◽

Drug Users ◽

Illicit Drug ◽

Marijuana Use ◽

Infection Status ◽

Hiv Status ◽

Cvd Risk ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Other Substances ◽

The Mean

Abstract Objectives Illicit drug use can lead to adverse cardiovascular events; it is an additional risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Thus, we sought to determine the association between CVD and drug use in people living with HIV (PLWH) using the FHS 10-year risk. Methods Participants were selected from the MASH cohort. Demographics, anthropometrics, bioimpedance analysis, and fasting blood samples were collected by trained personnel. HIV Viral Load (VL, copies/ml) was abstracted from medical charts. Urine toxicology was used to determine current illicit drug use. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze demographics, HIV status, and VL (undetectable VL < 50 copies/ml). CVD (10-year risk) score was calculated using a formula based on CVD risk factors. An independent sample t-test was used to compare the mean CVD risk score between drug users and non-users. Linear regression was used to find an association between drug users and CVD 10-year risk while controlling for sex and infection status. Results Participants’ mean age was 54.6 ± 7.9 years (n = 1034), 58% male and 63.8% Black. About 46.8% were PLWH and 90.9% had an undetectable VL. The average CVD 10-year risk of all participants was 15.1% and 49.6% of participants used illicit substances. A univariate linear regression showed a positive association between FHS 10-year risk and marijuana use (b = 2.260 SE = 1.036, 95% CI: 0.227–4.293; P = 0.029). After adjusting for sex and HIV status the association remained significant (b = 2.322 SE = 1.028, 95% CI: 0.304–4.340; P = 0.024). Comparing the mean 10-year risk between groups, a significant difference between marijuana users and non-users was seen regardless of infection status and age (95% CI: −4.293- −0.227; P = 0.029). Separating by sex, only males showed a significant difference in 10-year risk when comparing marijuana users to non-users irrespective of infection status and age (95% CI: −6.394- −0.8373; P = 0.011). No association was determined between 10-year risk and other substances, including cocaine, fentanyl, and amphetamines. Conclusions Marijuana use seems to be a strong predictor of CVD risk in minority populations. However, other substances of abuse did not exhibit a cardiovascular effect regardless of HIV status or sex. Further studies are needed to examine the relationship between the use of marijuana and CVD. Funding Sources National Institute on Drug Abuse.

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Increases in injection drug use putting drug users at risk for HIV and other blood-borne diseases

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e417382008-001 ◽

2004 ◽

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Drug Use ◽

Injection Drug Use ◽

Drug Users ◽

Injection Drug

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Drug Use Patterns and Demographics of Employed Drug Users: Data from the 1988 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e496352006-002 ◽

1990 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Andrea Kopstein ◽

◽

Joseph Gfroerer

Keyword(s):

Drug Abuse ◽

Drug Use ◽

Drug Users ◽

Household Survey ◽

Use Patterns ◽

Drug Use Patterns ◽

National Household Survey

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Effect of Injecting Drug Users' HIV Status on Counselors' Acceptance of Harm Reduction Interventions

PsycEXTRA Dataset ◽

10.1037/e566962012-221 ◽

2009 ◽

Author(s):

Erin E. Bonar ◽

Harold Rosenberg

Keyword(s):

Harm Reduction ◽

Drug Users ◽

Injecting Drug Users ◽

Hiv Status

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Recreational Prescription Drug Use Among College Students

NASPA Journal ◽

10.2202/0027-6014.1569 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 43 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ethan A Kolek

Keyword(s):

Drug Use ◽

Prescription Drug ◽

Undergraduate Students ◽

Prescription Drugs ◽

Drug Users ◽

Research University ◽

Future Research ◽

Negative Consequences ◽

Prescription Drug Use ◽

Other Substances

The purpose of this study was to explore recreational prescription drug use among undergraduate students. Although anecdotal accounts on this subject abound, empirical research is extremely limited. Data from a survey of a random sample of 734 students at a large public research university in the Northeast were examined. Results indicate that a substantial proportion of students reported having used prescription drugs for recreational purposes in the year prior to survey administration. Recreational prescription drug use was positively associated with the use of other substances including alcohol. Recreational prescription drug users were also more likely than other drug users to report negative consequences as a result of their drug use. Implications for future research and for student affairs are discussed.

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Illicit Drug Use in Canada and Implications for Suicidal Behaviors, and Household Food Insecurity: Findings from a Large, Nationally Representative Survey

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18126425 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (12) ◽

pp. 6425

Author(s):

Nicola Luigi Bragazzi ◽

Dan Beamish ◽

Jude Dzevela Kong ◽

Jianhong Wu

Keyword(s):

Suicidal Ideation ◽

Drug Use ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Drug Users ◽

Illicit Drug ◽

Illicit Drug Use ◽

Household Food Insecurity ◽

Household Food ◽

Suicidal Attempts ◽

Nationally Representative

Background and Aims: Illicit drug use is an ongoing health and social issue in Canada. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of illicit drug use and its implications for suicidal behaviors, and household food insecurity in Canada. Design: Cross-sectional population survey. Setting: Canada, using the 2015–2016 Canadian Community Health Survey, a nationally representative sample selected by stratified multi-stage probability sampling. Participants: A total of 106,850 respondents aged ≥ 12 years who had completed information on illicit drug use. Measurements: Illicit drug use was assessed through a series of questions about illicit drug use methods. Respondents who reported lifetime illicit drug use but no past-year use were considered to have prior illicit drug use. In this survey, illicit drug use included cannabis use. Findings: Overall, the prevalence of lifetime, past-year, and prior illicit drug use was 33.2% (9.8 million), 10.4% (3.1 million), and 22.7% (6.7 million), respectively. In models adjusting for sociodemographic covariates, prior illicit drug use was significantly associated with increased odds of past-year suicidal ideation (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.21, 95% CI 1.04–1.40), and plans (1.48, 1.15–1.91), and past-year household food insecurity (1.27, 1.14–1.41), and the odds were much higher among prior injecting drug users than prior non-injecting drug users. No significant correlation was found between prior illicit drug use and past-year suicidal attempts, but there was a strong association between past-year illicit drug use and past-year suicidal attempts. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that even after people have stopped taking illicit drugs, prior illicit drug use, especially for prior injecting drug use, continues to be associated with increased risks of subsequent suicidal ideation, and plans, and household food insecurity.

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Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Training among Medical Schools in the United States

Journal of Primary Care & Community Health ◽

10.1177/21501327211028713 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

pp. 215013272110287

Author(s):

Robert L. Cooper ◽

Mohammad Tabatabai ◽

Paul D. Juarez ◽

Aramandla Ramesh ◽

Matthew C. Morris ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Hiv Prevention ◽

Injection Drug Users ◽

Drug Users ◽

Healthcare Providers ◽

Medical Schools ◽

The United States ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Exposure Prophylaxis

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) has been shown to be an effective method of HIV prevention for men who have sex with-men (MSM) and -transgender women (MSTGWs), serodiscordant couples, and injection drug users; however fewer than 50 000 individuals currently take this regimen. Knowledge of PrEP is low among healthcare providers and much of this lack of knowledge stems from the lack or exposure to PrEP in medical school. We conducted a cross sectional survey of medical schools in the United States to assess the degree to which PrEP for HIV prevention is taught. The survey consisted Likert scale questions assessing how well the students were prepared to perform each skill associated with PrEP delivery, as well as how PrEP education was delivered to students. We contacted 141 medical schools and 71 responded to the survey (50.4%). PrEP education was only reported to be offered at 38% of schools, and only 15.4% reported specific training for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) patients. The most common delivery methods of PrEP content were didactic sessions with 11 schools reporting this method followed by problem-based learning, direct patient contact, workshops, and small group discussions. Students were more prepared to provide PrEP to MSM compared to other high-risk patients. Few medical schools are preparing their students to prescribe PrEP upon graduation. Further, there is a need to increase the number of direct patient contacts or simulations for students to be better prepared.

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