Intensive behavioral interventions needed to reduce amphetamine use, which is linked to HIV risk
A paper in The Lancet Series on HIV in people who use drugs looks at the relationship between amphetamine drug use and HIV. Among the conclusions are that because of the increased HIV risk associated with amphetamine use, amphetamine users should have ready access to HIV prevention interventions, including HIV testing. Furthermore, treatment for amphetamine dependence should be more integrated with HIV prevention and care in populations with high levels of both amphetamine use and HIV, such as men who have sex with men. In this rigorous meta-analysis, the authors found that only intensive, multi-session treatment programmes reduced amphetamine use. This paper is by Dr Grant Colfax, Director of HIV Prevention and Research, San Francisco Department of Public Health, CA, USA, and colleagues.