TY - JOUR
T1 - Sexual-risk reduction following the referral of syringe exchange registrants to methadone maintenance
T2 - Impact of gender and drug use
AU - Kidorf, Michael
AU - Brooner, Robert K.
AU - Yan, Haijuan
AU - Peirce, Jessica
N1 - Funding Information:
National Institute of Drug Abuse ( NIDA ) provided financial support for the conduct of this research ( RO1 DA 12347 and R34 DA 042320 ). NIDA had no role in the design of the study; the collection, analysis, or interpretation of the data; the writing of the report; or the decision to submit this research for publication.
Funding Information:
This study was supported by research grants RO1 DA 12347 and R34 DA 042320 (M. Kidorf, PI) from the National Institute on Drug Abuse . We gratefully acknowledge staff from the Baltimore Needle Exchange Program and Addiction Treatment Services for their contributions to this research. We also acknowledge Jeannie-Marie Leoutsakos for directing the statistical analyses. Finally, we acknowledge and thank the research staff whose diligence ensured both the quality and integrity of the study, especially Kori Kindbom, M.A., Jim Blucher, M.A., Rachel Burns, B.A., Mark Levinson, M.A., Jennifer Mucha, M.A, Michael Sklar, M.A.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021
PY - 2021/5
Y1 - 2021/5
N2 - This study evaluates the impact of enrolling syringe exchange registrants in methadone maintenance on change in sexual-risk behaviors. Baltimore Needle Exchange Program (BNEP) registrants (n = 210) participated in a parent study evaluating strategies for initiating methadone maintenance treatment and the study followed them for six months. Study staff administered the Risk Assessment Battery (RAB; Metzger, 1993) monthly throughout treatment. Staff conducted urinalysis testing weekly. Results showed that treatment enrollment reduced sexual-risk behaviors at month 1, though a longer treatment duration provided no further reductions in risky behaviors. Women reported higher levels of sexual risk throughout the observation period, and the use of cocaine diminished risk-reduction benefits. These findings demonstrate that participation in methadone maintenance reduces sexual-risk behaviors in syringe exchange registrants. Efforts to help more patients reduce cocaine use, and to help women address gender-specific psychosocial vulnerabilities, may further reduce risky behaviors during the treatment episode.
AB - This study evaluates the impact of enrolling syringe exchange registrants in methadone maintenance on change in sexual-risk behaviors. Baltimore Needle Exchange Program (BNEP) registrants (n = 210) participated in a parent study evaluating strategies for initiating methadone maintenance treatment and the study followed them for six months. Study staff administered the Risk Assessment Battery (RAB; Metzger, 1993) monthly throughout treatment. Staff conducted urinalysis testing weekly. Results showed that treatment enrollment reduced sexual-risk behaviors at month 1, though a longer treatment duration provided no further reductions in risky behaviors. Women reported higher levels of sexual risk throughout the observation period, and the use of cocaine diminished risk-reduction benefits. These findings demonstrate that participation in methadone maintenance reduces sexual-risk behaviors in syringe exchange registrants. Efforts to help more patients reduce cocaine use, and to help women address gender-specific psychosocial vulnerabilities, may further reduce risky behaviors during the treatment episode.
KW - Methadone maintenance
KW - Sexual risk reduction
KW - Syringe exchange
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108286
DO - 10.1016/j.jsat.2021.108286
M3 - Article
C2 - 33771283
AN - SCOPUS:85099456668
SN - 0740-5472
VL - 124
JO - Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
JF - Journal of Substance Abuse Treatment
M1 - 108286
ER -