TY - JOUR
T1 - Gender differences in illicit substance use among middle-aged drug users with or at risk for HIV infection
AU - Hartel, Diana M.
AU - Schoenbaum, Ellie E.
AU - Lo, Yunglai
AU - Klein, Robert S.
N1 - Funding Information:
We thank Donna Buono and the support staff of the AIDS Research Program at Montefiore Medical Center. Financial support. National Institute on Drug Abuse (grants R01 DA13564 and R01 DA14998) and Center for AIDS Research, Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (grant AI051519). Potential conflicts of interest. All authors: no conflicts.
PY - 2006/8/15
Y1 - 2006/8/15
N2 - Objective. The objective of the present study was to examine gender differences and other factors associated with current heroin and cocaine use among middle-aged drug users. Methods. Baseline data were merged from 2 studies of men and of women with or at risk for HIV infection. Analysis was restricted to study participants who had ever used heroin or cocaine and who were 49-60 years of age at the time that they were interviewed. HIV-antibody status, drug-use history, and psychosocial and sociodemographic data were examined. Logistic regression models were used to assess factors independently associated with current heroin and cocaine use. Results. Of 627 persons who ever used heroin and/or cocaine, 250 (39.9%) reported using these drugs within 6 months of the study interview conducted at baseline. Men were more likely to be using drugs currently, compared with women (42.3% vs. 28.2%; P = .007). In multivariate analysis, men, unemployed persons, and HIV-seronegative persons were more likely to be using heroin or cocaine at the time of the interview. In addition, current marijuana users, persons drinking alcohol on a daily basis, and persons who had been homeless in the 6 months before the interview were also more likely to be using these drugs. Conclusion. A relatively high proportion of middle-aged substance users with or at risk for HIV infection, especially men, may continue to use illicit drugs into the sixth decade of life. The differences noted between men and women who have used heroin and/or cocaine at some point in their lives suggest that special attention be given to aging and gender issues in framing HIV-prevention and drug-treatment programs.
AB - Objective. The objective of the present study was to examine gender differences and other factors associated with current heroin and cocaine use among middle-aged drug users. Methods. Baseline data were merged from 2 studies of men and of women with or at risk for HIV infection. Analysis was restricted to study participants who had ever used heroin or cocaine and who were 49-60 years of age at the time that they were interviewed. HIV-antibody status, drug-use history, and psychosocial and sociodemographic data were examined. Logistic regression models were used to assess factors independently associated with current heroin and cocaine use. Results. Of 627 persons who ever used heroin and/or cocaine, 250 (39.9%) reported using these drugs within 6 months of the study interview conducted at baseline. Men were more likely to be using drugs currently, compared with women (42.3% vs. 28.2%; P = .007). In multivariate analysis, men, unemployed persons, and HIV-seronegative persons were more likely to be using heroin or cocaine at the time of the interview. In addition, current marijuana users, persons drinking alcohol on a daily basis, and persons who had been homeless in the 6 months before the interview were also more likely to be using these drugs. Conclusion. A relatively high proportion of middle-aged substance users with or at risk for HIV infection, especially men, may continue to use illicit drugs into the sixth decade of life. The differences noted between men and women who have used heroin and/or cocaine at some point in their lives suggest that special attention be given to aging and gender issues in framing HIV-prevention and drug-treatment programs.
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U2 - 10.1086/505978
DO - 10.1086/505978
M3 - Article
C2 - 16838244
AN - SCOPUS:33746585281
SN - 1058-4838
VL - 43
SP - 525
EP - 531
JO - Clinical Infectious Diseases
JF - Clinical Infectious Diseases
IS - 4
ER -