Recorded presentation

Matthew J. Magee, BA, Susan L. Bailey, PhD, and Lawrence J. Ouellet, PhD. Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois Chicago, 1603 West Taylor Street (MC 923), Chicago, IL 60612, 312 996 3198, mjmagee@uic.edu

Objectives: Many young IDUs in suburban Chicago live with their parents, but little is known about the potential role of parents to assist in HIV/HCV risk reduction. Using preliminary data, we examined demographic characteristics, drug use, and risk reduction beliefs of young IDUs and their parents in suburban Chicago. Methods: IDUs 18-25 years old were recruited through outreach and respondent-driven sampling. Nearly 63% agreed to have their parent/guardian contacted. To date, 33 parents/guardians have completed telephone surveys. Results: IDU participants (n=131 to date) were 66% male, 86% white, median age 22 years, and 81% lived with their parents/guardians. More than 40% reported receptive needle sharing, and 61% shared injection paraphernalia. Parent participants were mainly female (85%), single (49%), working full or part-time (70%), and biological parents (91%). Most talked with their children about problems (79%) and about their children’s heroin use (85%). A majority of parents would support their child using a needle exchange program (NEP) (57%), but more supported using psychological (83%) or self-help (93%) services. Almost half of the 33 parents believed that NEPs increase drug use (49%), and 48% were opposed to driving their child to an NEP. Nearly 60% of parents reported lifetime use of illicit drugs. Conclusions: Most IDUs in this study lived with their parents, communicated with them regularly, and were willing to have them contacted to participate in an intervention. Generally, parents were open to multiple approaches toward reducing their child’s risk for HIV/HCV infection, but exhibited a preference for traditional treatment interventions.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to (
• describe the demographic characteristics of young IDUs and their parents from suburban Chicago, (
• assess the need for new harm reduction techniques within this population, and (
• identify common parental beliefs concerning the risks of their children’s heroin use.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Injection Drug Users

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Recorded presentation