Relazioni dei fattori di rischio e dei trattamenti metadonici con la incidenza da HIV-sieropositivitàe di AIDS in tossicodipendenti

The incidence of HIV seropositivity and AIDS was evaluated in 114 heroin addicts in relation to risk factors such as the duration of intravenous use of heroin, syringe exchange, as well as therapeutic treatments, with particular regard to methadone treatment. The results show that the incidence of HIV seropositivity and full-blown AIDs in the sample is in relation with the duration of the heroin dependence, but not with the quantity of substance intake, as well as with the practice of syringe exchange. On the contrary, neither seropositivity nor the onset of the clinical manifestation of the disease seem to be influenced by methadone treatment, both in terms of maintenance and of dose intake. At the same time, both the treatment with other drugs (such as buprenorphine, morphine and clonidine), and the partecipation to programmes of residency in therapeutic communities seem to have very scarce influence.