NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE EPIDEMIOLOGIC ...
NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE EPIDEMIOLOGIC ...
NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON DRUG ABUSE EPIDEMIOLOGIC ...
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No recent GHB incidents or deaths were reported.<br />
GHB education efforts are directed towards ED personnel,<br />
who often see the users initially. Ketamine<br />
(“Special K”), a veterinary anesthetic, is known for<br />
its hallucinogenic effects. Use of ketamine has been<br />
not been seen recently.<br />
INFECTIOUS DISEASES RELATED TO <strong>DRUG</strong> <strong>ABUSE</strong><br />
HIV<br />
HIV seropositivity among IDUs remained low in St.<br />
Louis. While the predominant number of cases is<br />
among men who have sex with men (MSM), the largest<br />
increase was found among young African-<br />
American females, who were infected through heterosexual<br />
or bisexual contact, and young homosexual African-American<br />
males. As a result, increased specialized<br />
minority prevention efforts have been initiated.<br />
Of the total 6,646 persons living with HIV disease<br />
identified through May 2004, 5 percent were IDUs<br />
and 5 percent involved men who have sex with men<br />
and are also IDUs (MSM/IDUs) (exhibit 2). The<br />
number of infected African-Americans was increasing<br />
disproportionately among males and females.<br />
HIV Research<br />
Saint Louis University has continued research on<br />
HIV prevention vaccines. Most of the prevention<br />
vaccine trials have been Phase I trials in low-risk<br />
individuals, and new DNA vaccines and adjuvants<br />
are being studied.<br />
216<br />
<strong>EPIDEMIOLOGIC</strong> TRENDS IN <strong>DRUG</strong> <strong>ABUSE</strong>—St. Louis<br />
Two Phase II trials are being implemented within the<br />
next year.<br />
STDs and Hepatitis C<br />
A resurgence of syphilis among MSM has led to increased<br />
surveillance and targeted prevention programs<br />
to this population. Rates of gonorrhea and<br />
chlamydia remain stable and high in the urban STD<br />
clinics. St. Louis ranks third in the country for gonorrhea,<br />
with cases remaining at approximately 1,000<br />
per year, and second for chlamydia. The increase in<br />
heterosexual transmission is a concern for public<br />
health officials. Further research is needed on ways to<br />
effect sustained behavior change.<br />
HIV and syphilis/gonorrhea rates are high in neighborhoods<br />
known to have high levels of drug abuse,<br />
underscoring the concept of assortative mixing in<br />
cohorts. This may limit the cross-spread of these illnesses<br />
within a neighborhood or Zip Code. Hepatitis<br />
C is a concern in these populations, but inconsistent<br />
reporting has made estimation of the problem and<br />
tracking of hepatitis C cases difficult<br />
REFERENCES<br />
Herlig, C. Strategic Intelligence, St. Louis Office of<br />
the Drug Enforcement Administration. Personal<br />
communication.<br />
Cottler, L.; et al. St. Louis, Missouri: Washington University.<br />
Personal communication.<br />
For inquires concerning this report, please contact Heidi Israel, Ph.D., R.N., L.C.S.W., Saint Louis University School of Medicine, 3691 Rutger –<br />
Suite 103, St. Louis, MO 63110, Phone: (314) 977-9644, Fax: (314) 977-1781, E-mail: Israelha@slu.edu.<br />
Proceedings of the Community Epidemiology Work Group, Vol. II, January 2005