Researchers examine the use of antiretroviral therapy among injection drug users with HIV infection: Study suggests addiction treatment and health care contribute to HAART ...( ipants had a CD4 cell count making them...),Health

The participants were interviewed and examined every 6 months. Researchers also collected demographic information as well as information on current drug use, sexual behavior, utilization of health care, AIDS symptoms, and use of specific antiretroviral drugs.

Overall, nearly one third of the injection drug users eligible for antiretroviral treatment never received it. According to the study, injection drug use was strongly associated with not instituting HAART. Participants who stated they injected drugs consistently were more than 58 percent less likely to initiate HAART and intermittent drug users were 20 percent less likely to use HAART.

The study also shows that men enrolled in methadone treatment for drug addiction were 80 percent more likely to enroll in HAART than those that were not on methadone, however there was no increase in HAART initiation among women using methadone.

Having health care and regular access to care outside of the study was also strongly associated with increased HAART initiation. The results showed that participants with health insurance were four times more likely initiate HAART treatment than those without insurance. Participants who received some other form of antiretroviral treatment were also more likely to start HAART treatment.

"By identifying the factors associated with HAART initiation among injection drug users, we can develop better public health policies to treat this population," explains Dr. Celentano.

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Contact: Tim Parsons or Ming Tai
paffairs@jhsph.edu
410-955-6878
Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health
25-Sep-2001