NCJ Number
190062
Journal
Drug and Alcohol Review Volume: 20 Issue: 2 Dated: June 2001 Pages: 205-211
Date Published
June 2001
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This Australian study compared drug use, injecting, and sexual risk-taking behavior among pregnant injecting drug users (IDUs) (n=74) enrolled in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT), non-pregnant women IDUs (n=41) enrolled in MMT, and women IDUs not enrolled in treatment (n=20).
Abstract
In addition to basic information on demographic characteristics, history of any treatment for drug dependence, and details of current MMT, subjects were administered the Opiate Treatment Index, which assessed the subjects' use of 11 classes of drugs in the month prior to the day of interview, as well as HIV antibody testing. There was no significant difference between pregnant IDUs enrolled in MMT and women IDUs not enrolled in treatment as regards their injecting risk-taking behavior. Both groups reported significantly higher levels of injecting risk-taking behavior compared to (non-pregnant) women enrolled in MMT. Pregnant women enrolled in MMT reported a significantly lower methadone dose compared to non-pregnant women in MMT. There was a trend for pregnant women enrolled in MMT to report a higher level of heroin use compared to non-pregnant women in MMT. The lack of evidence for a difference in the level of injecting risk-taking behavior between pregnant IDUs enrolled in MMT and women IDUs not enrolled in treatment suggested the need for additional strategies among pregnant IDUs to reduce IDU and injecting risk-taking behavior. Possible strategies included maintenance on higher doses of methadone and the application of relapse prevention strategies. 1 table and 22 references