Yingfeng Wu

Childhood sexual abuse and age at initiation of injection drug use

OBJECTIVES We examined the relation between childhood sexual abuse and injection drug use initiation among young adult injection drug users. METHODS We used mixed effect linear models to compare age at first injection among 2143 young injection drug users by first sexual abuse age categories. RESULTS The participants were predominantly male (63.3%) and White (52.8%). Mean age and age at first injection were 23.7 and 19.6 years, respectively; 307 participants (14.3%) reported childhood sexual abuse. After adjustment for gender, race/ethnicity, noninjection drug use before first injection drug use, and recruitment site, childhood sexual abuse was independently associated with younger age at first injection. CONCLUSIONS Childhood sexual abuse was associated with earlier initiation of injection drug use. These data emphasize the need to integrate substance abuse prevention with postvictimization services for children and adolescents.

Hepatitis C incidence—a comparison between injection and noninjection drug users in New York City

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) burdens injection drug users (IDUs) with prevalence estimated from 60–100% compared to around 5% among noninjection drug users (non-IDUs). We present preliminary data comparing the risk for HCV among IDUs and non-IDUs to inform new avenues of HCV prevention and intervention planning. Two cohorts, new IDUs (injecting ≤3 years) and non-IDUs (smoke/sniff heroine, crack or cocaine ≤10 years) ages 15–40, were street-recruited in New York City. Participants underwent risk surveys and HCV serology at baseline and 6-month follow-up visits. Person-time analysis was used to estimate annual HCV incidence. Of 683 non-IDUs, 653 were HCV seronegative, 422 returned for at least 1 follow-up visit, and 1 became HCV seropositive. Non-IDUs contributed 246.3 person-years (PY) yielding an annual incident rate of 0.4/100 PY (95% Confidence Interval [CI]=0.0–1.2). Of 260 IDUs, 114 were HCV seronegative, 62 returned for at least 1 follow-up visit, and 13 became HCV seropositive. IDUs contributed 36.3 PY yielding an annual incidence rate of 35.9/100 PY (95% CI=19.1–61.2). Among IDUs, HCV seroconverters tended to be younger (median age 25 vs. 28, respectively), and inject more frequently (61.5% vs. 34.7%, respectively) than nonseroconverters. These interim data suggest that IDUs may have engaged in high-risk practices prior to being identified for prevention services. Preventing or at least delaying transition into injection could increase opportunity to intervene. Identifying risk factors for transition into injection could inform early prevention to reduce onset of injection and risk of HCV.

Impact of Drug Abuse Treatment Modalities on Adherence to ART/HAART Among a Cohort of HIV Seropositive Women

Methadone maintenance is associated with improved adherence to antiretroviral therapies among HIV-positive illicit drug users; however, little information exists on whether adherence is associated with different drug abuse treatment modalities. Using longitudinal data from the Womens Interagency HIV Study, we evaluated the relationship between drug abuse treatment modality and adherence to antiretroviral therapies. In prospective analyses, individuals who reported accessing any drug abuse treatment program were more likely to report adherence to antiretroviral regimens ≥ 95% of the time (AOR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.01–1.92). Involvement in either a medication-based or medication-free program was similarly associated with improved adherence. Drug abuse treatment programs, irrespective of modality, are associated with improved adherence to antiretroviral therapies among drug users. Concerted efforts to enroll individuals with drug use histories in treatment programs are warranted to improve HIV disease outcomes.

Drug use frequency among street-recruited heroin and cocaine users in Harlem and the Bronx before and after September 11, 2001

We determined if illicit drug use frequency changes after a disaster by comparing drug use frequency in two street-recruited samples of heroin and cocaine users, ages 15–40 years. The users were interviewed between July 11 and November 11 and divided into before- and after-September 11th groups for analysis. The before and after groups were similar in the mean number of days of drug use per month (sniff cocaine 6.8 days vs. 9.4 days, respectively, P=.17; snorted heroin 13.9 vs. 14.0, respectively, P=.96; smoked crack 16.9 vs. 15.6, respectively, P=.96; and smoked marijuana 17.5 vs. 15.3, respectively, P=.36) and in the proportion of daily users: sniffed cocaine 10% versus 17%, respectively (P=.28); snorted heroin 47% versus 40%, respectively (P=.91); smoked crack 33% versus 37%, respectively (P=.68); and smoked marijuana 47% versus 40%, respectively (P=.41). Among street-recruited heroin and cocaine users in Harlem and the Bronx, the frequency of drug use did not increase following the events of September 11, 2001.

Changes in hepatitis C virus (HCV) viral load and interferon-alpha levels in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Background: Reports are mixed as to whether highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) increases liver transaminase levels or hepatitis C virus (HCV) titers in HIV/HCV-coinfected individuals. It is hypothesized that increases in HCV RNA titers may result from changes in endogenous interferon-&agr; (IFN-&agr;) production. Methods: HIV/HCV-coinfected patients receiving HAART were tested at baseline, 1, 2, 3, 6, and 9 months for liver transaminase levels, HIV and HCV viral loads, and IFN-&agr;. Linear regression analysis was used to determine the effect of HAART on liver transaminase levels, HCV viral load, and IFN-&agr;. Results: Initiating HAART did not increase liver transaminase levels in majority of cases. In patients (n = 30) with baseline HIV titer >10,000 copies/mL, HCV titers increased 0.69 log10 and IFN-&agr; decreased −0.96 log10 during HAART, in association with a ≥0.5 log10 decrease in HIV titer. As HIV titers reached their nadir approximately 4 months after initiation of HAART, HCV titers remained 0.54 log10 and IFN-&agr; −0.71 log10 above and below baseline levels, respectively. HCV titers and IFN-&agr; levels did not change from baseline in patients with baseline HIV titer ≤10,000 copies/mL. Conclusions: Coinfected patients did not have evidence of hepatoxicity HAART. In patients with baseline HIV titer >10,000 copies/mL, suppression of HIV replication by HAART was associated with an increase in HCV titer and a decrease in endogenous IFN-&agr; levels.

Street-outreach Improves Detection but not Referral for Drug Users with Latent Tuberculosis, New York City

Street outreach in two New York City communities, Harlem and the South Bronx, between May 2001 and March 2003, provided tuberculin skin test (TST) screening to illicit drug users outside the traditional health care system. Persons who used heroin, cocaine, and/or crack were offered a TST, incentives to return for TST reading, and further evaluation if TST was positive. Of 809 participants, 530 (66%) accepted a TST and 81% (429/530) returned for TST reading. Of 429 participants, 40 (9%) were TST positive. Participants found TST positive did not differ from those found TST negative in previous drug user treatment or drug use practices including snorting heroin, sniffing cocaine, smoking crack, and injecting drugs of any kind. Of the 40 participants found TST positive, the 21 who tested TST positive for the first time were more likely to be male (p = .03) and noninjectors (p = .02), than the 19 who had tested TST positive in the past. Only two newly identified persons pursued follow-up care. Street recruitment expanded testing. Better follow-up strategies are needed. The studys limitations are noted.