The study found that program participants made positive behavior changes in both drug injection use and high-risk sex. The study involved 261 clients in a drug treatment program at Walden House in San Francisco. Treatment involves a variety of clinical and support services, such as individual, group, and family counseling, education and vocational services, and social and recreational activities.
Treatment is structured to move participants from drug dependence to a drug-free lifestyle.
Participants included both men and women, ranging in age from 18 to 53 years. The primary drug of choice was cocaine for 67 percent of participants and heroin for 13 percent. As the epidemic continued, it became known that substance abusers who did not inject drugs also were at greater risk of HIV infection than the general population because of high-risk sexual practices. Participants in treatment for at least 6 months were less likely to shoot up drugs with other people or use other people s syringes or needles. Positive changes in sexual behavior among participants included a decrease in the number of different sexual partners and an increase in those having a regular partner, according to the study.