e several specific risk factors for IV drug users, including the frequency of drug injection, the sharing of injection equipment, injecting in shooting galleries, and sexual behaviors. They define the transmission of the HIV virus as a form of interaction among two or more persons, and these high risk behaviors involve two or more persons under circumstances that would facilitate the transmission of the HIV virus if it were present (Friedman and des Jarlais, 1991, 239-250). The depth of the problem can be seen in the results of a survey reported by Booth, Koester, Brewster, and Weibel (1991) which showed that over fifty percent of the subjects injected drugs on a daily basis, while 70 percent shared needles with other addicts. Only 22 percent used a disinfectant with their needles every time they injected. It was further found that 86 percent shared a "cooker" with other users, and nearly fifty percent reported injecting in a shooting gallery. These subjects were not merely dangerous to themselves, either, since 90 percent reported having sexual relations in the six months prior to the interview, with one-half having had multiple partners. The subjects rarely used condoms (Booth, Koester, Brewster, and Weibel, 1991, 337-353).
This was the situation after a long effort at public education on the dangers of HIV infection and ways to avoid it. Leukefeld, Battjes, and Amsel (1990) suggest, along with many other professionals and researchers, that prevention efforts to reduce the risk of AIDS among IV drug users should be a priority considering the high levels of AIDS risk behavior within this population and the fact that the sexual partners of IV drug users are also at risk (Leukefeld, Battjes, and Amsel, 1990, 235-243). The sharing of needles is the primary risk factor for IV drug users. Lishner and Look (1990) emphasize that this is one of the major means of transmission of the HIV virus into the general population. Educatio...