Mental Health of Young People Who Inject Drugs

PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS AND HIV RISK BEHAVIORS AMONG YOUNG INJECTION DRUG USERS, NIDA GRANT R01DA020368 The specific aims of this study are: (1) to estimate the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and symptoms among young IDU; (2) to examine the sociodemographic and drug use correlates of psychiatric problems; (3) to identify gaps in access to psychiatric care, drug treatment, and HIV/STD prevention services among young IDUs with and without psychiatric problems; (4) to compare the rates of unsafe sex and injection behaviors among young IDUs with and without psychiatric problems; (5) to compare HIV-prevention knowledge, pro-prevention attitudes and norms, and self-efficacy for prevention behavior of young IDUs with and without psychiatric problems; and (6) to test an Information-Motivation-Behavioral Skills (IMB) model of HIV risk behavior on a sample of young IDUs.

We completed interviews with 570 IDUs ages 18 to 25 years recruited from Chicago neighborhoods through outreach and respondent-driven sampling. Trained clinicians administered the Psychiatric Research Interview for Substance and Mental Disorders (PRISM) to assess psychiatric disorders and symptoms. Respondents also completed an audio-computer-assisted self-interview (ACASI) survey to assess risk behavior, treatment and service history, socio-demographic background, and social-cognitive measures.