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To the Editor: Dr Strathdee and colleagues¹ identified patient and physician characteristics associated with antiretroviral therapy (ART) use in injection drug users (IDUs) infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and found that the odds of not receiving therapy were increased more than 3-fold for those not currently enrolled in drug or alcohol treatment programs. Unfortunately, they did not provide odds ratios (ORs) for enrollment in specific types of addiction treatment and in particular methadone maintenance programs. It would also be useful to know how physician experience in treating HIV illness correlates with physician authorization to prescribe methadone status.

John F. Anderson, MD
British Columbia Ministry of Health and Ministry
Responsible for Seniors
Victoria, British Columbia

1. Strathdee SA, Palepu A, Cornelisse PGA, et al. Barriers to use of free antiretroviral therapy in injection drug users. JAMA. 1998;280:547-549. FREE FULL TEXT

To the Editor: Our experience in Harlem with the antiretroviral treatment of HIV-infected IDUs is quite different from that reported by Dr Celentano et al¹ and by Dr Strathdee et al.² These authors report ART . . . [Full Text of this Article]