An urgent need exists for treatments to reduce HIV risk behaviors among HIV-seropositive injection drug users as well as to determine optimal treatment intensity to accomplish this goal. The proposed study is a Stage 2 behavioral therapies development project (#PA-94-078) in response to Addendum (NIH Guide, Vol. 12, #40) requesting proposals investigating therapies for reducing AIDS risk behaviors. One hundred HIV-seropositive cocaine-abusing methadone-maintained patients will be stratified by severity of cognitive impairment and randomly assigned to receive either a comprehensive Risk Reduction Methadone Program, developed specifically for HIV-positive injection drug users, or a standard methadone program that includes NIDA's HIV Counseling and Education Intervention.
The specific aims of this study are: (a) to determine the relative efficacy of a specialized Risk Reduction Methadone Program for reducing high risk behaviors and increasing compliance with medical regimens in HIV-seropositive injection drug users, at treatment completion and at a three-month follow-up; and (b) to explore predictors of treatment outcome, such as cognitive ability, disease progression, psychosocial functioning, and motivation for behavior change.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DA010851-02
Application #
2518017
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (SRCD (20))
Project Start
1996-09-30
Project End
2001-08-31
Budget Start
1997-09-01
Budget End
1998-08-31
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
1997
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Yale University
Department
Psychiatry
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
082359691
City
New Haven
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06520
Avants, S Kelly; Margolin, Arthur; Usubiaga, Mary Helen et al. (2004) Targeting HIV-related outcomes with intravenous drug users maintained on methadone: a randomized clinical trial of a harm reduction group therapy. J Subst Abuse Treat 26:67-78
Margolin, Arthur; Avants, S Kelly; Warburton, Lara A et al. (2003) A randomized clinical trial of a manual-guided risk reduction intervention for HIV-positive injection drug users. Health Psychol 22:223-8
Copenhaver, Michael; Avants, S Kelly; Warburton, Lara A et al. (2003) Intervening effectively with drug abusers infected with HIV: taking into account the potential for cognitive impairment. J Psychoactive Drugs 35:209-18
Margolin, Arthur; Avants, S Kelly; Warburton, Lara A et al. (2002) Factors affecting cognitive functioning in a sample of human immunodeficiency virus-positive injection drug users. AIDS Patient Care STDS 16:255-67
Avants, S K; Warburton, L A; Margolin, A (2001) Spiritual and religious support in recovery from addiction among HIV-positive injection drug users. J Psychoactive Drugs 33:39-45
Avants, S K; Margolin, A; Warburton, L A et al. (2001) Predictors of nonadherence to HIV-related medication regimens during methadone stabilization. Am J Addict 10:69-78
Avants, S K; Warburton, L A; Margolin, A (2001) How injection drug users coped with testing HIV-seropositive: implications for subsequent health-related behaviors. AIDS Educ Prev 13:207-18
Avants, S K; Warburton, L A; Hawkins, K A et al. (2000) Continuation of high-risk behavior by HIV-positive drug users. Treatment implications. J Subst Abuse Treat 19:15-22