Cocaine use and risky injection and sexual behaviors

Drug Alcohol Depend. 1995 Jan;37(1):7-14. doi: 10.1016/0376-8716(94)01060-x.

Abstract

The association between cocaine use (crack and injection cocaine) and risky behaviors for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection was investigated among participants in a multi-site study at drug treatment and non-drug treatment sites in Worcester, Massachusetts. Cocaine use was more prevalent among young, African-American men. Compared to heroin injectors cocaine injectors had higher risk injection and sexual behaviors. Among non-injectors, crack users were more likely to have multiple partners and receive money or drugs for sex. Cocaine use, either injected or smoked as crack, should be considered a high risk behavior for HIV infection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Black or African American / statistics & numerical data
  • Cocaine*
  • Condoms / statistics & numerical data
  • Crack Cocaine*
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology
  • HIV Infections / ethnology
  • HIV Infections / prevention & control
  • HIV Infections / transmission*
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Hispanic or Latino / statistics & numerical data
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Massachusetts / epidemiology
  • Needle Sharing / adverse effects
  • Needle Sharing / statistics & numerical data
  • Risk Factors
  • Sexual Behavior*
  • Substance Abuse Treatment Centers
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / epidemiology*
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / ethnology
  • Substance Abuse, Intravenous / rehabilitation
  • Substance-Related Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Substance-Related Disorders / ethnology
  • Substance-Related Disorders / rehabilitation
  • White People / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • Crack Cocaine
  • Cocaine