#Crack addiction crack#

#Crack addiction crack#

High rates of sexually transmitted infections among crack users may serve to enhance transmission efficiency ( Fleming and Wasserheit 1999).

Risk of HIV transmission or re-infection may be increased among HIV-positive crack for other reasons as well. 2003), nearly 40% reported multiple sex partners in the previous three months, more than two-thirds reported inconsistent condom use, about half reported trading sex for drugs or money, and more than half reported being high on crack during sex. In a study of 137 crack-smoking, African-American, HIV-positive men and women ( Timpson et al. (2001) found that, among 386 HIV-infected women, those who reported smoking crack during the study period were at least twice as likely as their non-crack smoking counterparts to report inconsistent condom use with HIV-negative partners. (2000) found that those who continued to use crack after HIV-diagnosis ( n = 2,361) reported the highest prevalence of unprotected sex, multiple partners, and exchanging sex for drugs or money across strata of sexual orientation and gender. In a study of 10,415 HIV-positive heterosexual men, heterosexual women, and men who have sex with men, Campsmith et al. Studies indicate that HIV-positive persons who use crack cocaine engage in sexual risk behaviors at relatively high rates and may be at especially high risk for HIV transmission or re-infection. This minority of HIV-positive persons may not only place their sex partners at risk of HIV or other sexually transmitted infections, but may also place themselves at risk for re-infection with medication-resistant HIV strains ( Booth and Gerretti 2007). sample representing a diversity of settings, subpopulations, and geographic regions, Kalichman (2000) estimated that approximately 33% of HIV-positive persons continued to engage in unprotected sexual intercourse. 2000), a substantial minority of HIV-positive persons continue to engage in risky sexual behaviors ( Kalichman 2000 Schiltz and Sandfort 2000). Further investigations of binge crack use and sexual risk behaviors and interventions targeting and tailored to this group should be considered.Īlthough a majority of people living with HIV/AIDS report reductions in sexual risk behaviors after diagnosis ( Weinhardt et al. African-American, HIV-positive binge users of crack cocaine appear to be at increased risk for HIV transmission.

Among both male and female users, recent bingers were more likely to report lifetime trading of sex for drugs. Among male users, recent bingers were more likely to report lifetime and recent exchange of money for sex and drugs for sex. In multivariable ordinal and logistic regression analyses, recent bingers had more sex partners in the last six months and 30 days and were more likely to have never used a condom in the last 30 days. In multivariable logistic regression analyses, recent bingers were more likely than non-bingers to consider themselves homeless, to have any income source, to have used crack longer, and to score higher on risk-taking and need for help with their drug problem. Seventy-two percent had sex during the last binge, with an average of 3.1 partners. Nearly two-thirds reported their last binge was in their own or another's home. The typical crack binge lasted 3.7 days and involved smoking 40 rocks on average.

Fifty-one percent reported a recent crack binge. Recent binge use was defined as, “using as much crack cocaine as you can, until you run out of crack or are unable to use any more” in the last 30 days. This study describes binge use of crack cocaine, binge users, and their sexual risk behaviors in a sample of 303 African-American, HIV-positive users.