A comparison of HIV-positive and HIV-negative crack users enrolled in a residential addiction treatment program

This study compared 96 HIV-Positive (HIV+) and 357 HIV-Negative (HIV-) crack users who were participating in the same drug-free, residential treatment program. Comparisons were made on sociodemographic, health, criminal justice, psychosocial, and recovery motivation variables. As predicted, the HIV(+) participants were more apt than the HIV(-) participants to be female and recently homeless. Also as predicted, HIV(+) participants had poorer subjective health, had more convictions for various criminal offenses, and were less apt to acquire employment during treatment when compared to the HIV(-) participants. Contrary to prediction, HIV(+) participants reported more social support, were not less committed to abstinence or 12-step groups, and were not less apt to complete the treatment program in comparison to the HIV(-) participants. These results suggest that HIV(+) crack users can be successfully treated in a rigorous treatment program. Future research should examine post-treatment outcomes among HIV-infected persons.