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RESEARCH ARTICLE

Use of alcohol, nicotine and other drugs in the Western Australian HIV Cohort study

Susan E. Herrmann A D , Elizabeth J. McKinnon A , Leah J. Williams B , Mina John A B , Simon Mallal A B , Michaela Lucas A C and David A. Nolan A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Institute for Immunology & Infectious Diseases, Murdoch University, Building 390, Discovery Way, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.

B Department of Immunology, Royal Perth Hospital, Perth, WA 6000, Australia.

C Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: s.herrmann@murdoch.edu.au

Sexual Health 9(2) 199-201 https://doi.org/10.1071/SH11085
Submitted: 9 June 2011  Accepted: 28 July 2011   Published: 30 March 2012

Abstract

Self-report questionnaires on alcohol, nicotine and other drugs were administered to assess the current prevalence of alcohol, drug and nicotine use in our tertiary HIV service and inform the establishment of effective interventions. Many respondents reported use of alcohol over the preceding month (111 out of 152, 73%), and recent drug use (48 out of 137, 35%) and frequently both. Sessional alcohol consumption was prevalent among drinkers (52 out of 111, 47%), and correlated with both early treatment phase (P = 0.009) and non-adherence (P = 0.03). Encouraged by a notable proportion of patients expressing interest in clinic-based smoking cessation counselling, we recommend a targeted education strategy to motivate patients in health-seeking behaviours.

Additional keywords: intervention, marijuana, non-adherence.


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