Sexual HIV transmission risk behaviors associated with stimulant drug injection among people who non-medically use gabapentin and opioids.

Abstract

Background: Recent research shows that co-use of stimulants and opioids appears to be increasing and injection of opioids and stimulants carries risk for HIV transmission. This study examined stimulant injection and sexual HIV risk behaviors among individuals who reported nonmedical use of gabapentin and opioids (n=62).

Methods: Data were analyzed comparing people who injected stimulants to those who do not were conducted using chi-square and t-tests.

Results: Compared to those who did not, people who injected stimulants, were less likely to be African American/Black (p<0.05) and more likely to report sex with another person who injects drugs (p<0.01), recent injection of prescription and/or illicit opioids (p<.000), and hepatitis C infection (p<0.01). Condomless intercourse during group sex was more prevalent among stimulant injectors, significant at the trend level (p<0.1).

Conclusions: Given the documented association between the use of opioids and nonmedical use of gabapentin and the growing trend of opioid-stimulant co-use use, future research must examine whether nonmedical use of gabapentin is an indicator of substance use disorder severity and/or a risk factor for injection drug use. Education and intervention opportunities which address group sex and other sexual risk behaviors are warranted.