Drug use and HIV risk-taking behaviour among clients in methadone maintenance treatment

Current drug use and HIV risk-taking behaviour of a sample of 95 methadone maintenance clients was investigated. Subjects had been on their current programme for an average of 70.9 weeks with a mean daily dose of methadone of 65.6 mg. Two-thirds had injected heroin, and 82% had injected a street drug in the month prior to interview. Over 20% of subjects had shared a needle in the month before interview, all with only one other person. Subjects who had injected cocaine in the month before interview had significantly higher levels of injecting risk-taking behaviour than those subjects who had injected but not used cocaine. Condom use among subjects was low, particularly in regular relationships. While knowledge concerning HIV was high among subjects, there was no relation between level of knowledge and actual behaviour. It is concluded that knowledge alone is not sufficient to ensure behaviour change.