AIDS Risk among Intravenous Drug-Using Offenders

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Abstract
An in-jail sample of intravenous drug users was interviewed to determine types and frequencies of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) risk behaviors, correlates of risk behavior, and the barriers to risk reduction. Almost all were daily injectors and dually addicted to heroin and cocaine. Most continue to share drug injection equipment without effective cleaning and few use condoms regularly. Higher nondrug criminality was related to several measures of AIDS risk and addiction history. Subjects' expectations of not relapsing to intravenous drug use and of avoiding AIDS after release from jail seemed unrealistic. Negative attitudes toward methadone maintenance were prevalent.