Intravenous Drug Users and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing and Counseling
- Samuel Perry, MD;
- Lawrence Jacobsberg, MD, PhD;
- Pamela Weiler, BM;
- Joanne Ryan, RN;
- Karen Fogel, RN
Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text.
Excerpt
To the Editor.— Curtis et al1 recently reported in The Journal that 21% of intravenous (IV) drug users in their methadone maintenance program had, usually unbeknownst to staff, sought human immunodeficiency virus serological testing at other sites. The article raises the question whether, in the service of coordinating care, the testing site should share results with drug rehabilitation counselors. Based on our experience, we think not. We have two reasons
First, IV drug users are unlikely to seek testing if they fear strict confidentiality will not be maintained.2 For more than 2 years in our ongoing federally funded study of psychobehavioral responses to human immunodeficiency virus testing at The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, we have extensively evaluated and followed up 49 IV drug users. Compared with the 315 subjects with other risk factors, the IV drug users have been at least as concerned about notification of third
