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HIV risk‐taking behaviour among amphetamine users in Sydney, Australia
Author(s) -
HANDO JULIE,
HALL WAYNE
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
addiction
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.424
H-Index - 193
eISSN - 1360-0443
pISSN - 0965-2140
DOI - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.1994.tb00852.x
Subject(s) - amphetamine , casual , condom , needle sharing , medicine , sexual behavior , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , psychiatry , psychology , demography , clinical psychology , family medicine , materials science , syphilis , sociology , dopamine , composite material , endocrinology
A survey was undertaken of needle‐sharing and sexually risky behaviour among 231 Australian amphetamine users, half of whom usually injected amphetamine. The prevalence of risky needle use and sexual behaviour was similar to that observed in recent Australian surveys of opioid injectors. About a third of those who had ever injected had shared needles, and the variables that best predicted frequency of sharing needles were having an injecting drug user as a partner, having experienced symptoms of dependence on amphetamines, and having sought medical treatment for an amphetamine related problem. Regular condom use with either regular or casual partners toas low; only the minority employed in the sex industry regularly used condoms. Sexual risk‐taking was not related to needle‐sharing or amphetamine use. Although Australian amphetamine and opioid users have reduced their risks of transmitting HIV, there remains a substantial minority of both types of drug injector who continue to place themselves and others at risk by sharing needles and engaging in unsafe sexual behaviour.