Hazardous alcohol consumption among young adult IDU and its association with high risk behaviors

Abstract

Background Heavy alcohol consumption has been associated with risk-taking behaviors in intravenous drug users (IDU). However, limited information exists on the relationship between alcohol use and injecting and sexual risk in young adult IDU (<30 years) who are at risk for hepatitis C virus (HCV) and HIV infection. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study of young adult IDU in San Francisco (2006-2012) who had not previously tested positive for HCV. Participants completed a structured interview and HCV testing. We examined whether hazardous drinking (Alcohol Use Disorders Test – Consumption [AUDIT-C] 3-9 for women and 4-9 for men) and probable dependent drinking (AUDIT-C 10-12) levels were associated with injecting and sexual risk behaviors and HCV status, indicated by adjusted odds ratios (AOR) in separate models adjusted for potential confounders. Results Of the 326 participants, 139 (42.6%) were hazardous drinkers and 82 (25.2%) were probable dependent drinkers; thus over two-thirds evidenced problem drinking. Being a hazardous drinker was significantly associated with injecting drug residue from another's drug preparation equipment (AOR 1.93). Probable dependent drinking was significantly associated sharing non-sterile drug preparation equipment (AOR 2.59), and inversely, with daily/near daily injecting (AOR 0.42). Both heavy drinking levels were associated with having ≥2 sexual partners (AOR 2.43 and 2.14). Drinking category was not associated with HCV test results. Conclusion The young adult IDU reported consuming alcohol at very high levels, which was associated with some unsafe sexual and injecting behaviors. Our study demonstrates the urgent need to intervene to reduce alcohol consumption in this population.

AUDIT-C score and its association with risky behaviours among professional drivers

“…This is true for both vulnerable groups and for the general population (Le Marchand et al, 2013;Beirness and Davis, 2007;Hamilton et al, 2012). One of the most frequent risky behaviours is driving after drinking alcohol (Beirness and Davis, 2007) as alcohol affects aspects of driving performance and has disinhibiting effects, which are a factor in dangerous driving behaviour (Fillmore et al, 2008).…”

Trends in Injection Risk Behaviors among People Who Inject Drugs and the Impact of Harm Reduction Programs in Ukraine, 2007–2013

“…We reviewed and analyzed data collected within the surveys BMonitoring the behavior and HIV-infection prevalence among injection drug users (IDUs) as a component of the second generation HIV surveillance^in 25 Study interviewers were trained by the UISR, Ukrainian Center for Disease Control (formerly-Ukrainian National AIDS Center), and ICF BAlliance for Public Health.^Testing for HIV was conducted by qualified and certificated medical workers from the regional AIDS centers or other medical establishments.…”

“…Social and demographic variables included age (i.e., [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35], and over 35 years old), marital status (i.e., live with husband/wife or sexual partner, do not live with husband/wife or sexual partner), educational level (i.e., primary (<9 years), secondary (9-11 years, community college), college or more (Bachelor's or higher level)), occupation (i.e., students and people permanent or occasional work vs. unemployed), and regions of Ukraine (i.e., Northern/ Western (Kyiv, Poltava, Sumy, Lutsk), Southern (i.e., Simferopol, Odesa, Kherson, Mykolaiv), Eastern (i.e., Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk), Central (Kyrovograd, Cherkasy, Dnipropetrovsk)). Several variables included were related to injection behavior including age of injection drug use initiation (i.e., [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20], and 20+ years old), type of injection drugs used in the last 30 days (i.e., opiates only, stimulants only, both opiates and stimulants), and overdose in the last 12 months.…”

“…Injection risk behavior also varies between opiate and stimulant users [20][21][22][23]. Higher alcohol use was found to be associated with more frequent injection risk practices [24,25]. In Ukraine, the overall number of HIV-infected PWIDs remains high, and this predominantly male group continues to be a major source for new heterosexual infections, especially among their female partners [1].…”

Prevalence and correlates of prescription opioid residue injection

“…To date, only four studies have looked at the prevalence of drug residue injection, focusing on injecting someone else's drug residue (Koester et al, 2005;Evans et al, 2009;Le Marchand et al, 2013). To our knowledge, PO residue injection has never been measured or discussed explicitly in epidemiological studies.…”