Depression, Executive Dysfunction, and Prior Economic and Social Vulnerability Associations in Incarcerated African American Men.

Low executive function (EF) and depression are each determinants of health. This study examined the synergy between deficits in EF (impaired cognitive flexibility; >75th percentile on the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test perseverative error score) and depressive symptoms (modified Centers for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression) and preincarceration well-being among incarcerated African American men ( N = 189). In adjusted analyses, having impaired EF and depression was strongly associated with pre-incarceration food insecurity (odds ratio [ OR] = 3.

Alcohol Use Severity and Sexual Risk Behavior Among Female Substance Users.

Background: Substance use has been identified as one of the leading factors related to HIV transmission in the United States. The association of problematic drinking with sexual risk behavior puts individuals at greater risk for HIV transmission. This may be of particular concern for women given that approximately 66% of new HIV infections occurring through heterosexual transmission are female.

Correlates of Trichomonas vaginalis Among Middle Age and Older Adults Who Use Drugs.

Background: Recent studies have reported high rates of Trichomonas vaginalis among middle age and older adults. Though trichomoniasis risk factors in this age cohort remain largely unknown, illicit drug use has been associated with increased incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). The number of mid-older adults using illicit drugs has increased significantly in recent years suggesting the need to understand the relationship between drug use and STIs in this age cohort.

An exploration of alcohol use severity and route of drug administration among persons that use heroin and cocaine.

Background: Alcohol use is prevalent among populations of persons that use illicit drugs. Problematic alcohol use among persons that use heroin and cocaine has been associated with poor treatment adherence, abstinence maintenance, and mental health concerns. Fully exploring how alcohol use severity interacts with route of administration (ROA) may be of notable importance in development of treatment protocols for persons that use heroin and cocaine.

Increased risk for substance use and health-related problems among homeless veterans.

Background And Objectives: The first aim of this study was to compare self-reported causes of homelessness between veterans and nonveterans. A second aim examined whether homeless male veterans were more likely than homeless male nonveterans to experience current problems with addictions, mental health, and physical health. Additionally, a third aim was to compare frequency of emergency room visits and treatment needs between the two groups.

Age cohort differences in illicit drug use and hepatitis C among African American substance users.

Identifying prognostic indicators for undiagnosed Hepatitis C is crucial to attenuate the negative impact of this disease. This study explored the influence of recent and more distal injection drug use on biologically confirmed Hepatitis C infection among a sample (N = 260) of older and younger African Americans. Data from the baseline assessment of the NEURO-HIV epidemiologic study was analyzed using confounder adjusted regression techniques.

Time Since Release from Incarceration and HIV Risk Behaviors Among Women: The Potential Protective Role of Committed Partners During Re-entry.

After release from incarceration, former female inmates face considerable stressors, which may influence drug use and other risk behaviors that increase risk for HIV infection. Involvement in a committed partnership may protect women against re-entry stressors that may lead to risky behaviors. This study measured the association between time since release from incarceration (1-6 months ago, and >6 months ago versus never incarcerated) and HIV risk behaviors and evaluated whether these associations differed by involvement in a committed partnership.

ADHD as a risk factor for early onset and heightened adult problem severity of illicit substance use: an accelerated gateway model.

The primary aims of the present study were to assess ADHD history as a risk factor for earlier initiation and current use of licit and illicit substances among a sample of drug using adults. It was hypothesized that ADHD history would accelerate the Gateway Theory of drug use. Participants included 941 drug-using African American and Caucasian individuals in Baltimore, Maryland.

Younger versus older African Americans: patterns and prevalence of recent illicit drug use.

Objectives: The current study examined recent substance use among younger and older African Americans and factors associated with recent use.

Methods: The current study used a subset of African American men and women (N = 260) from the NEURO-HIV Epidemiological Study (Mage = 42, SD = 9.27; 59% female).

Injection and non-injection drug use and infectious disease in Baltimore City: differences by race.

Purpose: The current study examines differences in the prevalence of biologically-confirmed hepatitis C virus (HCV), HIV, and coinfection between Black and White adult cocaine/heroin users across three drug use subgroups identified in previous research (Harrell et al., 2012): non-injection smoking crack/nasal heroin users, heroin injectors, and polydrug injectors.

Results: 59% of the 482 participants in the study were male.

Cognitive performance profiles by latent classes of drug use.

Background And Objectives: The relationship between substance use and cognitive deficits is complex and requires innovative methods to enhance understanding. The present study is the first to use LCA to examine associations of drug use patterns with cognitive performance.

Methods: Cocaine/heroin users (N = 552) completed questionnaires, and cognitive measures.

HIV prevalence and risk behaviors among African American Women Who Trade Sex for Drugs Versus Economic Resources.

Trading sex for money, drugs, goods, services, or a place to stay is prevalent among women who use drugs and has been associated with women's risk of HIV acquisition. There is evidence that trading sex for drugs only may be associated with elevated risk of HIV compared with trading sex for money. The purpose of this study was to assess whether HIV risk behaviors and HIV prevalence differ among African American drug using women (N = 92) who traded sex for drugs only, traded sex for economic resources (defined as money, shelter, or other resources) only, or traded sex for both economic resources and drugs.

Awareness of biologically confirmed HCV among a community residing sample of drug users in Baltimore City.

The present study sought to examine: (1) the prevalence and correlates of biologically confirmed Hepatitis C (HCV) and (2) the prevalence and correlates of prior HCV diagnosis and an unmet need for HCV treatment, among a community residing sample of drug users. The current study used a subset of HCV tested participants from the larger NEURO-HIV Epidemiologic Study from Baltimore, Maryland (M(age) = 34.81, SD = 9.

Latent class analysis of polysubstance use, sexual risk behaviors, and infectious disease among South African drug users.

Background: HIV transmission risk among non-injection drug users is high due to the co-occurrence of drug use and sexual risk behaviors. The purpose of the current study was to identify patterns of drug use among polysubstance users within a high HIV prevalence population.

Methods: The study sample included 409 substance users from the Pretoria region of South Africa.

Alcohol use, alcohol problems, and problem behavior engagement among students at two schools in northern Mexico.

This study examined the association between alcohol-use problem severity, defined by number of DSM-IV alcohol Abuse and Dependence symptoms and frequency of alcohol use, and problem behavior engagement among Mexican students. A confidential survey was administered to 1229 students in grades 7-12 at two schools in a northern border city in Mexico. Youths were categorized into five groups based on their alcohol use frequency and symptoms of DSM-IV alcohol Abuse and Dependence, specifically: no lifetime alcohol use, lifetime alcohol use but none in the past year, past year alcohol use, one or two alcohol Abuse or Dependence symptoms, and three or more alcohol Abuse or Dependence symptoms.

The Impact of Homelessness on Recent Sex Trade among Pregnant Women in Drug Treatment.

This study is a secondary data analysis aimed to examine the influence of recent homelessness on recent sex trade among pregnant women in drug treatment after controlling for psychiatric comorbidity, age, education, and race. Eighty-one pregnant women from a drug treatment program in Baltimore, Maryland attended an in-person interview and completed the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders-IV for Axis I disorders, the HIV Risk Behavior Interview, and demographic questionnaires, which assessed psychiatric symptoms, recent homelessness, and sexual risk behavior respectively. Women who experienced recent homelessness had a 4.

A model of school problems, academic failure, alcohol initiation, and the relationship to adult heroin injection.

The current study uses structural equation modeling to investigate factors associated with alcohol initiation and injection heroin use. Baseline data from the NEURO-HIV Epidemiologic Study in Baltimore, Maryland, were used. Participants were 404 injection heroin users (M(age) = 32.

A latent class analysis of alcohol abuse and dependence symptoms among Puerto Rican youth.

The study aim was to classify youths into homogenous groups based on their symptoms of Alcohol Abuse and Dependence. An NIDA-funded cross-sectional survey was administered to 622 middle and high school students in San Juan, Puerto Rico in 2000. Latent class analysis (LCA) examined the Alcohol Abuse and Dependence symptoms.

Factors related to past HIV testing among South African non-injection drug users.

South Africa has some of the highest estimates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the world, with a prevalence of 21.5%. Despite this, based on population-level data, 39% of sexually active South Africans have never been tested for HIV.

Alcohol, Drug and Sexual Risk Behavior Correlates of Recent Transactional Sex Among Female Black South African Drug Users.

Transactional sex among black South African women has become a mode of economic survival putting them at higher risk for HIV and other infectious disease. In order to inform HIV interventions, drug and sexual risk behavior correlates of recent transactional sex among a descriptive epidemiological, cross-sectional sample of 189, black, South African women in Pretoria were examined using log binomial regression. Prevalence of HIV seropositivity was extremely high among non-transactional sex workers (47.

Examining racial/ethnic disparities in sexually transmitted diseases among recent heroin-using and cocaine-using women.

Background: This study examined racial differences in the prevalence of sexual risk behaviors and their associations with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among recent heroin-using and cocaine-using women.

Methods: Participants were 214 women (59% black, 41% white) who were recruited during 2002-2010 using targeted sampling to participate in a study in Baltimore, Maryland, and reported using heroin, cocaine, or crack during the previous 6 months. Participants completed self-report questionnaires about their drug use, sexual risk behaviors, and lifetime history of one of six STDs, including gonorrhea, syphilis, chlamydia, genital herpes, genital warts, or trichomoniasis.

Recent sex trade and injection drug use among pregnant opiate and cocaine dependent women in treatment: The significance of psychiatric comorbidity.

OBJECTIVES: This study examined whether opioid and cocaine dependent pregnant women with psychiatric comorbidity were at elevated risk for infectious disease by virtue of recent sex trade and injection drug use that overlapped with pregnancy. We hypothesized that opioid and cocaine dependent women with psychiatric comorbidity would have greater odds for engaging in recent sex trade and injection drug use. METHODS: Eighty-one, HIV-seronegative pregnant women (59.

Patterns of cognitive impairments among heroin and cocaine users: the association with self-reported learning disabilities and infectious disease.

This study used data from six neuropsychological measures of executive function (EF) and general intellectual functioning (GIF) administered to 303 regular users of heroin and/or cocaine as indicators in a latent profile analysis (LPA). Results indicated the presence of three profiles: impaired GIF and EF profile (30.8%), intact GIF and EF profile (58.

Prevalence and correlates of Hepatitis C among injection drug users: The significance of duration of use, incarceration and race/ethnicity.

The study examined associations between Hepatitis C (HCV) seropositivity and a lifetime history of jail or correctional facility incarceration among injection drug users. The sample consisted of 351 injection drug users recruited in inner-city neighborhoods of Baltimore. Multiple logistic regressions were fit to assess associations between HCV seropositivity and a lifetime history of incarceration for the total sample and stratified by race.