2013
P3.225 HSV-2 Seroprevalence Among Current Injection Drug Users in Estonia
Uusküla A, Raag M, Abel-Ollo K, Talu A, Rüütel K, Salekesin M, Niccolai L, White T, Heimer R. P3.225 HSV-2 Seroprevalence Among Current Injection Drug Users in Estonia. Sexually Transmitted Infections 2013, 89: a218. DOI: 10.1136/sextrans-2013-051184.0682.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHSV-2 seroprevalenceDrug usersHSV-2 antibody testingSexual HIV transmission riskRisk behaviorsHerpes simplex virus type 2Current injection drug usersSimplex virus type 2HSV-2 seropositivityHSV-2 infectionHIV transmission riskPrevalence of HIVSexual risk reduction interventionInjection drug usersInjection risk behaviorsRisk reduction interventionsDrug use historyVirus type 2Sexual risk behaviorsHIV/AIDSRecent behavior changesHSV2 infectionSTI prevalenceActive IDUsHIV infection
2011
Prevalence, characteristics, and predictors of police training initiatives by US SEPs: Building an evidence base for structural interventions
Beletsky L, Grau LE, White E, Bowman S, Heimer R. Prevalence, characteristics, and predictors of police training initiatives by US SEPs: Building an evidence base for structural interventions. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2011, 119: 145-149. PMID: 21705159, PMCID: PMC3192926, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2011.05.034.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSyringe exchange programsInjection drug usersNeedle stick injuriesCommunity-based prevention initiativesPublic health benefitsStick injuriesHIV transmissionPublic health rationaleDrug usersMost program managersMultivariate analysisSyringe possessionPrevention initiativesEvidence baseHealth benefitsCommunity healthOccupational healthHealth rationaleMultivariate modelingPrevalenceStructural interventionsSEP operationsPredictorsHealthPrevious yearSubpopulations of Illicit Drug Users Reached by Targeted Street Outreach and Respondent-Driven Sampling Strategies: Implications for Research and Public Health Practice
Rudolph AE, Crawford ND, Latkin C, Heimer R, Benjamin EO, Jones KC, Fuller CM. Subpopulations of Illicit Drug Users Reached by Targeted Street Outreach and Respondent-Driven Sampling Strategies: Implications for Research and Public Health Practice. Annals Of Epidemiology 2011, 21: 280-289. PMID: 21376275, PMCID: PMC3062521, DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2010.11.007.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsRespondent-driven samplingPublic health practiceIllicit drug usersDrug usersStreet outreachHealth practicesDrug network characteristicsLog-binomial regressionNeedle exchange programsPublic health practitionersBaseline questionnaireHeroin usersDrug useHealth practitionersCocaine usersRecruitment wavesDifferent subgroupsRecruitment biasesRecruitment strategiesDescriptive statisticsNew York CityYork CityHeroinExchange programs
2010
Comparing sexual risks and patterns of alcohol and drug use between injection drug users (IDUs) and non-IDUs who report sexual partnerships with IDUs in St. Petersburg, Russia
Abdala N, White E, Toussova OV, Krasnoselskikh TV, Verevochkin S, Kozlov AP, Heimer R. Comparing sexual risks and patterns of alcohol and drug use between injection drug users (IDUs) and non-IDUs who report sexual partnerships with IDUs in St. Petersburg, Russia. BMC Public Health 2010, 10: 676. PMID: 21054855, PMCID: PMC2988741, DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-10-676.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInjection drug usersIDU sex partnersNon-IDUsRisky alcohol useSex partnersAlcohol useIDU populationSexual riskSexual transmissionUnprotected sexAlcohol Use Disorders Identification TestHIV prevention programsMultiple sexual partnersPatterns of alcoholSexual risk behaviorsSubstance use patternsDisorders Identification TestRisky sexual practicesHIV infectionMethamphetamine injectionAssessed associationsBackgroundTo dateCasual partnersGeneral populationDrug usersSurvival of Hepatitis C Virus in Syringes: Implication for Transmission among Injection Drug Users
Paintsil E, He H, Peters C, Lindenbach BD, Heimer R. Survival of Hepatitis C Virus in Syringes: Implication for Transmission among Injection Drug Users. The Journal Of Infectious Diseases 2010, 202: 984-990. PMID: 20726768, PMCID: PMC2932767, DOI: 10.1086/656212.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHepatitis C virusInjection drug usersDrug usersC virusHigh prevalenceInsulin syringesViable virusTuberculin syringesHCV infectivityResidual volumeReporter virusDay 1Prevention strategiesDay 7Microculture assayDay 63VirusLuciferase activitySyringesDegrees CPrevalenceVirus survivalSurvivalVirus decay ratesDaysDrug Network Characteristics and HIV Risk Among Injection Drug Users in Russia: The roles of Trust, Size, and Stability
Cepeda JA, Odinokova VA, Heimer R, Grau LE, Lyubimova A, Safiullina L, Levina OS, Niccolai LM. Drug Network Characteristics and HIV Risk Among Injection Drug Users in Russia: The roles of Trust, Size, and Stability. AIDS And Behavior 2010, 15: 1003-1010. PMID: 20872063, PMCID: PMC3112286, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-010-9816-7.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEstimates of HIV incidence among drug users in St. Petersburg, Russia: continued growth of a rapidly expanding epidemic
Niccolai LM, Verevochkin SV, Toussova OV, White E, Barbour R, Kozlov AP, Heimer R. Estimates of HIV incidence among drug users in St. Petersburg, Russia: continued growth of a rapidly expanding epidemic. European Journal Of Public Health 2010, 21: 613-619. PMID: 20798184, PMCID: PMC3180633, DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckq115.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInjection drug usersRetrospective cohort analysisHIV incidenceEnzyme immunoassayHIV epidemicCohort analysisDrug usersBED capture enzyme immunoassayHIV incident casesRecent HIV incidenceHigh HIV incidenceHIV prevention interventionsCross-sectional studyCapture enzyme immunoassayIncident infectionsIncident casesEstimate incidenceIndependent correlatesIncidence rateIncidence estimatesPrevention interventionsCurrent epidemic situationIncidenceVulnerable populationsLow specificityPrevalence and predictors of transitions to and away from syringe exchange use over time in 3 US cities with varied syringe dispensing policies
Green TC, Bluthenthal RN, Singer M, Beletsky L, Grau LE, Marshall P, Heimer R. Prevalence and predictors of transitions to and away from syringe exchange use over time in 3 US cities with varied syringe dispensing policies. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2010, 111: 74-81. PMID: 20537814, PMCID: PMC3087197, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2010.03.022.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSyringe exchange programsSEP usersSEP useThree-City cohort studyPolicy change analysisSyringe exchange usePredictors of transitionSecondary syringe exchangePolice contactCohort studyFemale sexHIV riskSyringe availabilityExchange useSyringe exchangeDrug usersDrug paraphernaliaHealth interventionsUS citiesLatino ethnicityIDUsPolicyContextual factorsMultinomial regressionTypologyPatterns of drug use and abuse among aging adults with and without HIV: A latent class analysis of a US Veteran cohort
Green TC, Kershaw T, Lin H, Heimer R, Goulet JL, Kraemer KL, Gordon AJ, Maisto SA, Day NL, Bryant K, Fiellin DA, Justice AC. Patterns of drug use and abuse among aging adults with and without HIV: A latent class analysis of a US Veteran cohort. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2010, 110: 208-220. PMID: 20395074, PMCID: PMC3087206, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2010.02.020.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsVeterans Aging Cohort StudyHIV statusMultidrug usersDrug useLatent class analysisUS Veteran cohortAging Cohort StudyActive drug useSelf-reported drug useMental health disordersProblem of obesityElectronic medical recordsUninfected veteransCohort studyClinical variablesDrug use consequencesSocio-demographic covariatesMedical recordsHigh prevalenceUninfected adultsAge 50HIVHealth disordersDrug usersVeteran cohortEstimation of the number of injection drug users in St. Petersburg, Russia
Heimer R, White E. Estimation of the number of injection drug users in St. Petersburg, Russia. Drug And Alcohol Dependence 2010, 109: 79-83. PMID: 20060238, PMCID: PMC2875272, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2009.12.010.Peer-Reviewed Original Research
2009
Getting the message straight: effects of a brief hepatitis prevention intervention among injection drug users
Grau LE, Green TC, Singer M, Bluthenthal RN, Marshall PA, Heimer R. Getting the message straight: effects of a brief hepatitis prevention intervention among injection drug users. Harm Reduction Journal 2009, 6: 36. PMID: 20003518, PMCID: PMC2804675, DOI: 10.1186/1477-7517-6-36.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchRisk reduction materialsSyringe exchange programsInjection drug usersHygiene suppliesDrug usersHealth promotion behaviorsAppropriate useHealth promotion materialsSEP clientsPrevention interventionsHepatitis riskBlood flowInjection practicesPromotion behaviorsInjection siteBrief interventionIntervention effectivenessIntervention packetInterventionPassive introductionPromotion materialsExchange programsOne-quarterSubstantial numberVerbal remindersHepatitis C virus infection among drug injectors in St Petersburg, Russia: social and molecular epidemiology of an endemic infection
Paintsil E, Verevochkin SV, Dukhovlinova E, Niccolai L, Barbour R, White E, Toussova OV, Alexander L, Kozlov AP, Heimer R. Hepatitis C virus infection among drug injectors in St Petersburg, Russia: social and molecular epidemiology of an endemic infection. Addiction 2009, 104: 1881-1890. PMID: 19712125, PMCID: PMC2763027, DOI: 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2009.02687.x.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInjection drug usersHepatitis C virusRespondent-driven samplingPrevalent infectionMajority of IDUsHepatitis C virus infectionSustained virological responseC virus infectionRespondent-driven sampleAssociation of genotypesIDU communityVirological responseHCV infectionAntiviral therapyC virusGenotype 3aDrug injectionVirus infectionDrug injectorsBlood samplesHCV sequencesDrug usersEndemic infectionInfectionMolecular epidemiologyDrug choice, spatial distribution, HIV risk, and HIV prevalence among injection drug users in St. Petersburg, Russia
Kruse GR, Barbour R, Heimer R, Shaboltas AV, Toussova OV, Hoffman IF, Kozlov AP. Drug choice, spatial distribution, HIV risk, and HIV prevalence among injection drug users in St. Petersburg, Russia. Harm Reduction Journal 2009, 6: 22. PMID: 19646255, PMCID: PMC2731096, DOI: 10.1186/1477-7517-6-22.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchHIV risk behaviorsHIV infectionHIV riskDrug usersClean syringesSex-related HIV risk behaviorsRisk behaviorsInjection drug usersDrug use categoriesDrug use groupHIV testingUnsafe injectionsHIV prevalenceSyringe sharingHIV epidemicNeighborhood of residenceConclusionThe typeDrug choicePlace of residenceDrug usePrevention programsYounger ageStudy participantsIntervention impactDifferent drugsPsychosocial and contextual correlates of opioid overdose risk among drug users in St. Petersburg, Russia
Grau LE, Green TC, Torban M, Blinnikova K, Krupitsky E, Ilyuk R, Kozlov AP, Heimer R. Psychosocial and contextual correlates of opioid overdose risk among drug users in St. Petersburg, Russia. Harm Reduction Journal 2009, 6: 17. PMID: 19630963, PMCID: PMC2724502, DOI: 10.1186/1477-7517-6-17.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchPotential Bridges of Heterosexual HIV Transmission from Drug Users to the General Population in St. Petersburg, Russia: Is it Easy to be a Young Female?
Toussova O, Shcherbakova I, Volkova G, Niccolai L, Heimer R, Kozlov A. Potential Bridges of Heterosexual HIV Transmission from Drug Users to the General Population in St. Petersburg, Russia: Is it Easy to be a Young Female? Journal Of Urban Health 2009, 86: 121-130. PMID: 19533368, PMCID: PMC2705483, DOI: 10.1007/s11524-009-9364-5.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsIDU sex partnersInjection drug usersSex partnersNon-IDUsGeneral populationDrug usersYoung femalesHeterosexual HIV transmissionEpidemic of HIVHIV diagnosisHIV transmissionSexual transmissionHIV preventionPotential bridgeFurther transmissionYoung womenAlcohol useConvenience sampleSignificant correlatesSignificant predictorsUrgent effortsFemalesEpidemicLast yearsLow levelsThe Potential for Bridging of HIV Transmission in the Russian Federation: Sex Risk Behaviors and HIV Prevalence among Drug Users (DUs) and their Non-DU Sex Partners
Niccolai LM, Shcherbakova IS, Toussova OV, Kozlov AP, Heimer R. The Potential for Bridging of HIV Transmission in the Russian Federation: Sex Risk Behaviors and HIV Prevalence among Drug Users (DUs) and their Non-DU Sex Partners. Journal Of Urban Health 2009, 86: 131-143. PMID: 19507037, PMCID: PMC2705488, DOI: 10.1007/s11524-009-9369-0.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsSex risk behaviorsNew sex partnerDrug usersHIV prevalenceSex partnersHIV transmissionRisk behaviorsHigh-risk sexual behaviorUnknown status partnersMale drug usersMultiple sex partnersSexual behaviorFemale drug usersHIV casesHIV epidemicHigh prevalenceGeneralized epidemicsUnprotected intercourseLast sexSexual contactFurther transmissionPrevalenceRecent evidenceMonthsFurther studiesSimultaneous Recruitment of Drug Users and Men Who Have Sex with Men in the United States and Russia Using Respondent-Driven Sampling: Sampling Methods and Implications
Iguchi MY, Ober AJ, Berry SH, Fain T, Heckathorn DD, Gorbach PM, Heimer R, Kozlov A, Ouellet LJ, Shoptaw S, Zule WA. Simultaneous Recruitment of Drug Users and Men Who Have Sex with Men in the United States and Russia Using Respondent-Driven Sampling: Sampling Methods and Implications. Journal Of Urban Health 2009, 86: 5. PMID: 19472058, PMCID: PMC2705484, DOI: 10.1007/s11524-009-9365-4.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsHuman immunodeficiency virusHigh-risk groupRespondent-driven samplingSample of MSMDrug usersSex partnersTraditional high-risk groupsHIV Cooperative Agreement ProgramGeneralized HIV epidemicsRace/ethnicitySexual acquisitionImmunodeficiency virusSexual transmissionHIV epidemicRisk groupsYoung MSMBlack MSMDrug useUS sitesMSMRecruitment biasMSM sampleMenPeer recruitmentSex
2008
High HIV Prevalence, Suboptimal HIV Testing, and Low Knowledge of HIV-Positive Serostatus Among Injection Drug Users in St. Petersburg, Russia
Niccolai LM, Toussova OV, Verevochkin SV, Barbour R, Heimer R, Kozlov AP. High HIV Prevalence, Suboptimal HIV Testing, and Low Knowledge of HIV-Positive Serostatus Among Injection Drug Users in St. Petersburg, Russia. AIDS And Behavior 2008, 14: 932-941. PMID: 18843531, PMCID: PMC3116648, DOI: 10.1007/s10461-008-9469-y.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInjection drug usersHIV-positive serostatusHIV prevalenceHIV testingDrug usersHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevalenceRecent doctor visitHigh HIV prevalenceUnsafe injectionsPositive serostatusDoctor visitsSerostatusHIVPrevalencePoor knowledgeVirus prevalenceLow knowledgeTesting patternsHistory/Adequate coverageCorrelatesInfectionVisitsMonthsSocial and structural aspects of the overdose risk environment in St. Petersburg, Russia
Green TC, Grau LE, Blinnikova KN, Torban M, Krupitsky E, Ilyuk R, Kozlov A, Heimer R. Social and structural aspects of the overdose risk environment in St. Petersburg, Russia. International Journal Of Drug Policy 2008, 20: 270-276. PMID: 18774283, PMCID: PMC2696401, DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2008.07.002.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsDrug usersRisk behaviorsIntervention feasibilityOpioid overdosesModerate-risk behaviorAbstinence-based treatmentMost drug usersOpioid injectorsSuboptimal responseOverdose response trainingTreatment modalitiesCommon causeOverdose riskNaloxone distributionOverdose mortalityModifiable aspectsAmbulance staffRisk environmentOverdosesTreatment providersMortalityStructural interventionsKey informant interviewsMore ambulancesInterventionEconomic Evaluation of Delivering Hepatitis B Vaccine to Injection Drug Users
Hu Y, Grau LE, Scott G, Seal KH, Marshall PA, Singer M, Heimer R. Economic Evaluation of Delivering Hepatitis B Vaccine to Injection Drug Users. American Journal Of Preventive Medicine 2008, 35: 25-32. PMID: 18541174, PMCID: PMC2483306, DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2008.03.028.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsInjection drug usersSyringe exchange programsHBV vaccinationDrug usersHepatitis B vaccination coverageActive injection drug usersAcute HBV infectionHepatitis B infectionHepatitis B vaccineQuality-adjusted life yearsAbsence of vaccinationLocal health departmentsDifferent vaccination strategiesVaccination program costsB infectionHBV infectionB vaccineFirst doseVaccination scheduleVaccination coverageVaccination strategiesCost-saving strategyVaccination campaignHigh riskMedical costs