Case management of substance abusers with HIV disease

Case management is a promising intervention that has been used widely in many settings but is not well evaluated with substance abusers. This article describes a case management approach for substance abusers with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) disease. Clients are enrolled from emergency and outpatient clinics of a general hospital. Case management focuses on encouraging a substance-free lifestyle, linking clients with needed services, and reducing their risk of transmitting HIV. A research project is currently underway to determine the effect of case management on client outcomes, assess its cost-effectiveness, and identify predictors of treatment participation and retention. Innovative models, such as case management approaches, can link drug abuse treatment with health care. These approaches may reduce the costs of care and improve the health care delivery system.