Current interventions to reduce sexual risk behaviors and crack cocaine use among HIV-infected individuals

Curr HIV/AIDS Rep. 2012 Dec;9(4):385-93. doi: 10.1007/s11904-012-0131-y.

Abstract

The dual global epidemics of crack cocaine use and HIV have resulted in a large number of people living with HIV who use crack cocaine, many of whom continue to engage in unprotected sex. Crack use also increases the rate of HIV progression. Consequently, there is an urgent need for effective interventions to decrease crack use and unprotected sex and to improve antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence in this population. This article reviews the recent published literature on interventions for reducing crack use and unprotected sex among people living with HIV. Only a few intervention outcome studies targeting exclusively HIV positive crack cocaine users were identified, whereas other studies used a mixed sample. Some interventions focused on reducing crack use and several focused on reducing sex-risk behaviors. Consequently, there is a critical need for efficacious interventions that address crack use, risky sex and ART adherence among people living with HIV.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active
  • Cocaine-Related Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Cocaine-Related Disorders / prevention & control
  • Crack Cocaine / adverse effects*
  • Female
  • HIV Seropositivity / drug therapy
  • HIV Seropositivity / epidemiology*
  • Health Promotion*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Medication Adherence / statistics & numerical data*
  • Risk Reduction Behavior*
  • Risk-Taking
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / epidemiology*
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / prevention & control
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Unsafe Sex / prevention & control*

Substances

  • Crack Cocaine