Des Jarlais, D.C., Casriel, C., Friedman, S.R., & Rosenblum, A. (1992). British Journal of Addiction 87 (3), 493 - 498
Description of Intervention: AIDS/Drug Injection Prevention
This prevention program was based on social learning principles. The intervention was delivered in four 1- to 1½-hour sessions over a 2-week time period. The intervention was led by two trainers who encouraged a therapeutic atmosphere in which participants felt free to discuss personal problem situations and seek help from the trainers and from their peers. Reduction in non-injected use of illicit drugs was an additional goal of the program. Trainers were clear not to take a condemning/punitive attitude. The emphasis was on recognizing and admitting problems with illicit drug use and then seeking treatment to reduce/eliminate the illicit drug use.
The four sessions covered understanding AIDS, risks of drug use and drug injection, sexual behavior and AIDS, and seeking entry into drug abuse treatment programs. The trainers used presentations, group discussion, and role-play of critical situations like refusing an offer of injection or seeking entry into a treatment program when one's non-injection drug use becomes too heavy. |
Intervention Goal(s): To determine the effects of a small group intervention to prevent the transition from sniffing heroin to injecting heroin.
Intervention Setting: Community storefront.§
Population: Of the 83 drug users (heroin sniffers) who participated in the study, 70% were men and 30% were women; 26% were African American, 23% were Hispanic, and 51% were white. The average age of the participants was 27 years.
Comparison Condition: AIDS information and HIV antibody pretest counseling (HIV test optional).
Behavioral/Health Findings: Men and women who participated in the intervention were significantly less likely to inject drugs than those in the comparison condition.
Contact:
Don C. Des Jarlais, PhD
Chemical Dependency Institute
Beth Israel Medical Center
1st Avenue at 16th Street
New York, NY 10003Phone: 212-387-3803
Fax: 212-387-3897
E-mail: dcdesjarla@aol.com
§Information obtained from related reports or author.
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This study meets CDC's HIV/AIDS Prevention Research Synthesis project criteria for relevance and methodological rigor and also has the positive and significant behavioral/health findings required for the Compendium. Date added 1/99
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