Drug Use and Multiple Sex Partners Among Homeless Ex-Offenders: Secondary Findings From an Experimental Study.

ABSTRACT: Transitioning into society after release from incarceration presents real challenges for male offenders; in California, up to 60% return to prison within 3 years after release. The risk for ongoing drug use and having sex with multiple partners is a significant challenge for ex-offenders preparing to enter the community.The aims are to describe drug use and sexual behavior (sex with multiple partners) prior to incarceration and 6 and 12 months after study enrollment using data obtained as part of a randomized controlled trial.This is a planned secondary analysis of data obtained as part of a randomized controlled trial designed to study the effects of intensive peer coaching and nurse case management, intensive peer coaching, and brief nurse counseling on hepatitis A and B vaccination adherence compared to a usual care control treatment that also included brief peer coaching and brief nurse counseling. Self-report data from subjects enrolled at one residential drug treatment facility in Los Angeles were captured at three time points: baseline and 6- and 12-month follow-up.Findings showed substantive and significant reductions in drug use and engaging in sex with multiple partners 6 months after enrollment into the study compared to the baseline data, but results did not differ by study condition. At 12-month follow-up, drug use and sex with multiple partners increased but remained less than at baseline levels.Sustaining reductions in drug use and engaging in sex with multiple partners remains a challenge after incarceration.

SUBMITTER: Nyamathi AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4856526 | biostudies-literature | 2016 May-Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature