Racial, gender, and psychosocial disparities in viral suppression trends among people receiving coordinated HIV care in Los Angeles County.

Objective: To longitudinally evaluate differences in HIV viral suppression (<200 copies/ml) by intersections of race/ethnicity, gender, and psychosocial issues in people with HIV in the Los Angeles County Medical Care Coordination Program.

Design: We analyzed 74 649 viral load measurements over 10 184 people with HIV enrolled in the Medical Care Coordination Program between January 1, 2013 and March 1, 2020.Methods: We fit Bayesian logistic hierarchical random effects models to test interactions between gender, race/ethnicity, and a psychosocial acuity score on viral suppression over time from 1 year prior to program enrollment to 24 months after enrollment.

Perspectives on preparing for long-acting injectable treatment for HIV among consumer, clinical and nonclinical stakeholders: A qualitative study exploring the anticipated challenges and opportunities for implementation in Los Angeles County.

Long-acting injectable (LAI) antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a novel HIV treatment option for people with HIV. The first LAI ART regimen for HIV treatment received regulatory approval in the United States in January 2021. In February 2020, we collected qualitative data from 18 consumers and 23 clinical and non-clinical stakeholders to catalog anticipated individual-consumer, healthcare system, and structural levels barriers and facilitators to LAI ART implementation in Los Angeles County, California.

Predictors of Internet Health Information-Seeking Behaviors Among Young Adults Living With HIV Across the United States: Longitudinal Observational Study.

Background: Consistent with young adults' penchant for digital communication, young adults living with HIV use digital communication media to seek out health information. Understanding the types of health information sought online and the characteristics of these information-seeking young adults is vital when designing digital health interventions for them.

Objective: This study aims to describe characteristics of young adults living with HIV who seek health information through the internet.

Qualitative Evaluation of Social Media and Mobile Technology Interventions Designed to Improve HIV Health Outcomes for Youth and Young Adults Living With HIV: A HRSA SPNS Initiative.

Youth and young adults living with HIV (YYALH) are less likely to be engaged in HIV care, adhere to their medications, and achieve viral suppression compared to older adult populations. In the United States, the majority of YYALH belong to racial/ethnic, sexual, and gender minority groups. HIV care interventions are needed that specifically target YYALH and that exploit the use of social media and mobile technology (SMMT) platforms, where youth and young adults have a ubiquitous presence.

Trajectories of Viral Suppression in People Living With HIV Receiving Coordinated Care: Differences by Comorbidities.

Background: In March of 2013, the Los Angeles County (LAC) Division of HIV and STD Programs implemented a clinic-based Medical Care Coordination (MCC) Program to increase viral suppression (VS) (<200 c/mL) among people living with HIV (PLWH) at high risk for poor health outcomes.

Objective: This study aimed to estimate trajectories of VS and to assess whether these trajectories differed by stimulant use, housing instability, and depressive symptom severity as reported by PLWH participating in MCC.

Methods: Data represent 6408 PLWH in LAC receiving services from the MCC Program and were obtained from LAC HIV surveillance data matched to behavioral assessments obtained across 35 Ryan White Program clinics participating in MCC.

Authorship Correction: Promising Approaches for Engaging Youth and Young Adults Living with HIV in HIV Primary Care Using Social Media and Mobile Technology Interventions: Protocol for the SPNS Social Media Initiative.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.2196/10681.].

Promising Approaches for Engaging Youth and Young Adults Living with HIV in HIV Primary Care Using Social Media and Mobile Technology Interventions: Protocol for the SPNS Social Media Initiative.

Background: In the United States, disparities in the rates of HIV care among youth and young adults result from the intersections of factors that include stigma, substance use, homelessness or marginal housing, institutional neglect, and mental health issues. Novel interventions are needed that are geared to youth and young adults.

Objective: In this paper, we aim to describe the interventions used by participating sites for Using Social Media initiative, the process for classifying the intervention components, and the methods for conducting a comprehensive evaluation of the interventions.

Use of Technology to Address Substance Use in the Context of HIV: A Systematic Review.

Substance users are at elevated risk for HIV. HIV researchers, particularly at the intersection of HIV and substance use, have requested new methods to better understand and address this important area. New technologies, such as social media and mobile applications, are increasingly being used as research tools in studies on HIV and substance use.

Adversity and syndemic production among men participating in the multicenter AIDS cohort study: a life-course approach.

Objectives: We tested a theory of syndemic production among men who have sex with men (MSM) using data from a large cohort study.

Methods: Participants were 1551 men from the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study enrolled at 4 study sites: Baltimore, Maryland-Washington, DC; Chicago, Illinois; Los Angeles, California; and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Participants who attended semiannual visits from April 1, 2008, to March 31, 2009, completed an additional survey that captured data about events throughout their life course thought to be related to syndemic production.

Application of syndemic theory to black men who have sex with men in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study.

This study analyzed data from a large prospective epidemiologic cohort study among men who have sex with men (MSM), the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study, to assess syndemic relationships among black MSM in the cohort (N = 301). We hypothesized that multiple interconnections among psychosocial health conditions would be found among these men, defining syndemic conditions. Constituents of syndemic conditions measured included reported depression symptoms, sexual compulsiveness, substance use, intimate partner violence (IPV), and stress.

Changes in stimulant drug use over time in the MACS: evidence for resilience against stimulant drug use among men who have sex with men.

Stimulant drug use is associated with numerous health problems among men who have sex with men (MSM). This paper describes how stimulant drug use changes over a four and one-half year period from 2003 until 2008. Participants were 2,389 men (17,222 person-visits) from The Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS)-an ongoing, prospective study of HIV infection among MSM.

Adapting HIV prevention evidence-based interventions in practice settings: an interview study.

Background: Evidence-based interventions that are being delivered in real-world settings are adapted to enhance the external validity of these interventions. The purpose of this study was to examine multiple intervention adaptations made during pre-implementation, implementation, maintenance, and evolution phases of human immunodeficiency virus HIV prevention technology transfer. We examined two important categories of adaptations -- modifications to key characteristics, such as activities or delivery methods of interventions and reinvention of the interventions including addition and deletion of core elements.

Treatment for amphetamine withdrawal.

Background: Few studies examined treatments for amphetamine withdrawal, although it is a common problem among amphetamine users. Its symptoms, in particular intense craving, may be a critical factor leading to relapse to amphetamine use. In clinical practice, medications for cocaine withdrawal are commonly used to manage amphetamine withdrawal although the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of these two illicit substances are different.

HIV prevention technology transfer: challenges and strategies in the real world.

Objectives: We examined implementation of evidence-based interventions for HIV prevention at community-based organizations in Los Angeles County, CA.

Methods: We conducted 2 waves of interviews with 34 organization staff members. We analyzed activities reported by staff in the phases (preimplementation, implementation, and maintenance and evolution) and activities defined by the technology transfer model for evidence-based HIV prevention interventions.

Treatment for amphetamine psychosis.

Background: Chronic amphetamine users may have experience of paranoia and hallucination. It has long been believed that dopamine antagonists, such as chlorpromazine, haloperidol, and thioridazine, are effective for the treatment of amphetamine psychosis.

Objectives: To evaluate risks, benefits, costs of treatments for amphetamine psychosis.

Treatment for amphetamine psychosis.

Background: Chronic amphetamine users may have experience of paranoia and hallucination. It has long been believed that dopamine antagonists, such as chlorpromazine, haloperidol, and thioridazine, are effective for the treatment of amphetamine psychosis.

Objectives: To evaluate risks, benefits, costs of treatments for amphetamine psychosis.

Bupropion hydrochloride versus placebo, in combination with cognitive behavioral therapy, for the treatment of cocaine abuse/dependence.

Bupropion hydrochloride is a dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor which may be an effective treatment for cocaine dependence due to its ability to reverse deficits in dopaminergic functioning that occur in chronic cocaine users. We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo controlled trial comparing outpatient treatment with bupropion (N = 37) and placebo (N = 33) in combination with standard cognitive behavioral therapy. There were no statistically significant differences between bupropion and placebo in treatment outcomes, including aggregate measures of urine drug screen results (Joint Probability Index at 16 weeks: 0.

A public health response to the methamphetamine epidemic: the implementation of contingency management to treat methamphetamine dependence.

Background: In response to increases in methamphatemine-associated sexually transmitted diseases, the San Francisco Department of Public Health implemented a contingency management (CM) field program called the Positive Reinforcement Opportunity Project (PROP).

Methods: Methamphetamine-using men who have sex with men (MSM) in San Francisco qualified for PROP following expressed interest in the program, provision of an observed urine sample that tested positive for methamphetamine metabolites and self-report of recent methamphetamine use. For 12 weeks, PROP participants provided observed urine samples on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and received vouchers of increasing value for each consecutive sample that tested negative to metabolites of methamphetamine.